
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



I 



TEN YEARS IN NEVADA 



OR, 



LIFE ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 



BY 



MRS. M. M. MATHEWS. 



'i 



U 






BUFFALO: 

Baker, Jones & Co., Printers and Binders, 222 Washington St. 

1S80. 

r-L- 

^7V 



i 



ii 



PREFACE. 



HAVE been frequently requested by my Eastern and Western friends to 



1 



write up my life in Nevada, and tell them how I managed to sustain my- 
self and child, carry on law, and lay up property. They wish to know some- 
thing of Pacific life ; the manners and customs of the people; all about the 
Chinamen, the Piutes, and the mines of the Comstock. They wish to know 
all I can tell them of the Pacific Coast after a ten years' sojourn in California 
and Nevada. 

All have persuaded me that such a book would be very interesting, and have 
an ext nsive circulation. 

I shall endeavor to write nothing but facts gathered from my own observa- 
tion and experience, or from other reliable sources. My readers will see I 
had but one purpose in going to Nevada — that of ascertaining the facts con- 
cerning my brother's death and his business affairs, and, if possible, to bring 
his murderer to justice, and to prove to his friends that he did not die a beg- 
gar, as was represented by Mr. G. G. Waters, the man who took charge of 
his papers. 

They will also see with what tenacity I clung to my purpose, never allowing 
any obstacle to hinder, or fear deter me. They will see that while accomplish- 
ing it we had to endure a great deal of sickness, privations, trials, and hard 
work. We did not shrink from honest labors, but engaged in anything that 
would further our purpose, regardless of the opinion of the high-toned. We 
took Conscience for our guide, and left the rest to God. 

Our vocations were as checkered and numerous as those of P. T. Barnum; 
for we have been seamstress, nurse, laundress, school-teacher, and letter- 



6 Preface. 

writer; have kept a lodging-house, and been our own chamber-maid ; kept 
boarders, and did our own cooking. 

My son shared privations and trials with me without a murmur, and did his 
part of the work; for, besides attending school and keepmg up with all his 
classes, he carried the Evening Chronicle, and had a route of his own, consist- 
ing of several of the best New York and San Francisco papers. He had alsa 
been an employee in the N. P. Telegraph Office; had played for benefits, and 
finallj' went on the stage as an actor, and has continued to follow the business 
ever since. 

Although we engaged in so many kinds of business, endured privations, 
hardships, losses; though we were swindled and robbed, our life on the Pa- 
cific Coast has been far from unpleasant; for few people ever enjoyed life 
more than we did. Few ever made more true and lasting friends than we did 
in the same length of time. We took life as it came — enduring its trials, and 
enjoying its pleasures. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PASK. 

Leaving Home — My Visit in Buffalo — My Brother's Journey — My Brother's 
Letters — Letters from Waters — My Visit with President Fillmore g 

CHAPTER n. 

Our Journey to Chicago and Omaha — Journey to Reno — Our Arrival in 
Virginia City — Looking for Work — Sick Child 23 

CHAPTER HL 

My Visit to Mr. Waters — Visit to Dayton — Visit to California — Incidents 
of the Journey 48 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Meeting of Mother and Child — Child Sick — The Revelation of Treat- 
ment to Child — Settlement — House Hunting — A Friend Moving to Vir- 
ginia City — Taking in Washing — The School — A Cousin Found — Search 
for Lawyers 87 

CHAPTER V. 

A Law Suit — A Move to B Street — More Friends — A Move to A Street — 
A Deal in Stocks — Buying a House — Moving Again — Sickness and a 
Broken Arm — Novelties in Love-making no 

CHAPTER VI. 

Finishing the House and Furnishing it — The Settlement with the Builders 
— Lodging-House Trials — The New Law Firm — The Big Fire — Sale of 
a Mine — Trouble of Getting My Pay 138 

CHAPTER VII. 

Description of Virginia City and its Inhabitants — The Secret Societies — 
Water Company — Gambling — The Centennial Fourth. 153 



8 Contents. 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Gold Hill— American Flat— Silver City— Dayton— Sutro— Carson City- 
Empire City ^9^ 

CHAPTER IX. 
Incidents of My Life Continued 2ig 

CHAPTER X. 
Chinatown and John Chinaman of Virginia City 1 249 

CHAPTER XI. 
The Snow-Sheds 264 

CHAPTER XII. 
The Free Lunch-House — Kansas Sufferers — The Piute Indiaqs 263 

CHAPTER XIII. 
The Corastock and the Mines . 292 

CHAPTER XIV. 
The Mines Continued ........ . 310 

CHAPTER XV. 
Our Lives Continued . 328 



CHAPTER I. 

Leaving Home — My Visit in Buffalo — My Brother's Journey — My Brother's 
Letters — Letters from Waters — My Visit with President Fillmore. 

'T^ T was the eleventh day of August, the year sixty-nine, 
-11 a day long to be remembered by me, for I was to leave 
home, parents, and sisters — all I hold dear, save my little 
boy, who was to accompany me to the land of gold — to be 
a stranger in a strange land. I arose from a sleepless pil- 
low, and, hastily dressing myself, I drew aside the curtain. 
As I gazed on the landscape before my window my heart 
grew sad at the thought of leaving so much loveliness for 
an uncertain future. The glorious sun was just peeping 
its head above the eastern horizon, setting his golden 
crown in a background of crimson and purple clouds, cast- 
ing his bright rays over garden and meadow. The dew 
sparkled on the bright green grass; the shrubs and flowers 
in the garden bent their blooming heads beneath the 
weight of its crystal drops. Yes, I was to leave all this 
for months, perhaps for years ; what wonder that my heart 
grew sad, and silent tears chased each other down my 
cheek ! but this would never do ; those loved ones must 
never know the struggle it cost me to leave them. 

I bathed my face, and descended to the breakfast-room ; 
ihe table was already set ; we gathered around it silent and 
sad ; the food was hardly tasted. We left the table to make 
our final preparations for the journey. Each familiar haunt 
Avas hastily visited — the orchard and the garden. Choice 
fruits were gathered for my basket. 



lo Ten Years in Nevada. 

I then returned to the house to spend the remainder of 
the time with my family ; the time is consumed in giving- 
counsel and warnings till the team drives to the door. 

The trunks, satchel, and basket are soon stowed away ; 
then came the parting. My darling sister Nettie threw her 
arms around my neck, and, bursting into a flood of tears, 
said : 

" I shall never see you again on earth ! " One moment she 
held me thus, kissing me passionately ; then, gathering 
Charley in her arms, pressed him to her heart, kissed him, 
and hastily left the room. 

Little, then, did I think her prophetic words were true. 
Alas ! they were too true : for I never looked upon her 
sweet face again. Kind reader, let me draw a veil over 
the remainder of the parting scene — 'tis too sacred for 
curious eyes. 

We are soon seated in the wagon, the whip snaps, the 
horses start. Charley calls out, good-bye Grandpapa, 
Grandmamma, and Aunt Nettie ! good-bye everything \ 
don't worry; we will come back all right. 

As we reached the top of a long hill in front of our 
house, I looked back to take a last look of those loved 
forms ; but I looked in vain, for they had gone away to 
weep. 

An old friend of my father, Mr. Yencer, took us to the 
depot, and as we speeded on our way, he tried to make us 
forget our parting by drawing us into conversation, till we 
reached the station. We were not a moment too soon, for 
the cars came steaming along just as we had procured our 
tickets and checked our trunks. 

We bade good-bye to our kind friend, took our seats, and 
the cars were again bounding along the track towards Buf- 
falo, each familiar village passing in rapid succession from 
my view. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 1 1 

As things became less familiar, I gave myself up to 
thought, till the conductor put his head in the door and 
called out Buffalo. I gathered up my things and descended 
to the platform, leaving all our things in the baggage-room. 
We took a street-car up Main as far as Eagle Street, and a 
few moments' walk brought us to my sister's, Mrs. Miles 
Moffatt. 

They were just eating dinner. We took them by sur- 
prise ; but sister told Charley she had been waiting for 
him. 

He told her she could not fool him, for he got up too 
early that morning. So more plates were added, and we 
all sat down together. 

While we are eating and enjoying the dinner, we will 
ask the reader to go back, some three months before the 
time this chapter opens, to my home. 

I was moving noiselessly about the room, lest I should 
disturb the slumbers of my mother, who had not slept well 
during the night ; my father came in with a letter from my 
brother Miles, in Wisconsin, and as he opened it a small 
piece of paper fluttered to the floor. He picked it up and 
read it, turned deadly pale, looked towards the bed on 
which my mother laid, read it again^ and then giving it to 
me, he said : " See what you think of that; it is somethi.is" 
about your brother Charles ! " 

I took the paper and read these words : " I do not know 
a B. F. McNair; but I did know a Charles McNair, who 
was killed in a political quarrel on American Flats. I have 
his papers, and can give information to his friends. 

" G. G. Waters." 

This was all it contained. After I had finished reading 
it I took up my brother's letter to see if I could gain any 
information concerning the papers. His letter stated that 
Cousin Jefferson had written to the post-master of Virginia 
City, Nev., making inquiries for his brother Frank, who 



12 Ten Years in Nevada. 

also had been gone a long time from home, and had re- 
ceived this scrap of paper in reply. 

Jefferson, knowing my brother was somewhere on the 
Pacific Coast, and that we were anxious to hear from him, 
had sent it to Miles, and he, forming the same opinion, had 
forwarded it to our father. He said in his letter that he 
would write to Mr. Waters for further particulars. 

As we were holding a consultation whether to tell my 
mother until we had heard more particulars, she parted the 
curtains around her bed and looked out, and asked, " who 
have you a letter from?" We said from Miles. "Are they 
all well?" Yes, both families, I said. " Well, what is 
wrong, then ? " 

But seeing we still hesitated, she said: " It is about Charley; 
you need not tell me ; he is dead." And she lay back on 
the pillow, and covered her face with her hands as if she 
were praying for strength to bear her great bereavement. 

Let the reader go back still farther, twelve years before 
Charles (named for his father) or Charley, as we all called 
him, a petted and idolized son and brother, had taken the 
gold fever, as many others at that time had. 

And when my parents (who had never crossed him in a 
single wish, or allowed him to be struck a blow since the 
death of his baby brothers) saw how his whole heart was 
set on this journey, they could not withhold their consent, 
although it was with great reluctance they gave it, for he 
was their youngest, their best beloved child. 

He possessed a very happy, pleasant disposition ; had no 
bad habits, always shunning bad company ; honest in all 
his deahngs, fearless and brave ; a true friend, loving son 
and brother. 

He was beloved by all who knew him. He loved and 
honored his father, but he idolized his mother ; her word 
was his law ; her counsel his guide. Such was our house- 
hold pet. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 13 

His health was not good, and he took the journey as 
much for his health as for gold. 

Their consent gained, preparations were soon made, and 
when the parting came he kissed his sister, held his mother 
in a silent embrace, for neither could speak a parting word; 
he wrung his father's hand, and drove away, never to re- 
turn, although he knew it not. He was but eighteen years 
of age ; his principles being good and firmly rooted, they did 
not fear to trust him. He said he would return or write 
within ten years, but would never return till he was rich. 

He said fifty thousand is well off, but a hundred thousand 
was rich ; but he wanted health more than money. 

He had a great desire to be large and stout like his 
brother Hugh. Thank God, he got both his wishes, al- 
though he was not permitted to return. 

The reader will see it was no family quarrel that sent my 
brother from his home, as has been represented by Mr. 
Waters. 

We will now go back to the time when we received that 
little scrap of paper which told us Charley was no more. 

My mother, unlike most people, could never shed a tear 
when oppressed with sorrow or trouble, no matter how 
great it might be ; this boon was denied her by nature. 

Now for twelve long years she had waited for the return 
of her darling boy, and for the last six years had aired his 
room, and had a nice supper prepared on the anniversary 
of his departure from home, hoping, praying that he 
might return ; and hope had sustained her through all 
these years. But now that he was dead, and hope fled, she 
took no notice of anything save the letters we wrote to Mr. 
Waters and his answers, for we did not wait for Miles to 
write, but wrote ourselves that very day ; also several 
others, which he answered. In one we requested him to 
send Charley's papers. This he refused to do, unless satis- 
fied it was Charlev's parents who wanted them. We then 



14 Ten Years in Nevada. 

had our attorney, E. W. Packard, Esq., of Nunda, send for 
them. 

They came by steamer, and it was some two months be- 
fore we received them. 

We had no through railroad then as we had two months 
later. 

By Charley's papers we discovered he owned several 
pieces of mining property, a mill site, and mining stock ; 
also notes and money orders. This did not look much like 
a beggar, and on comparing his letters, found them a 
bundle of contradictories ; and to prove that I am not 
making any false statements, I will publish the letters here 
that the reader may see and judge for himself. After com- 
paring notes, I think you will agree with me. 

Gold Hill, Storey County. 
Nevada, February 5, 1869. 
Mr. McNair: 

Yours of January 22, 1869, received to-day. In answer 
to inquiries regarding Charles McNair, or B. F. McNair, I 
can state what I know of Charles McNair. I never knew 
him by any other initials. He was a young man about 
twenty-four or twenty-six years of age, about five feet eight 
or ten inches in height, round face, light hair, in good flesh, 
generally holding his head a little down when walking ; 
light complexion ; a deep thinker, and somewhat erratic in 
his conversation; radically Union; temperate in his habits. 
His father, as he often spoke of it, must have been a drink- 
ing man. I think he came to Gold Hill, Nev., in 1861 
or 1862 ; has worked for me on the American Flat Toll Road 
at different times until his death, in a lamentable manner, 
in the summer of 1865, having been shot, with a shot-gun, 
through the lower portion of the abdomen. Mortification 
set in, causing death on the third day after the shoot- 
ing. Mrs. Waters and myself attended him frequently ; 



Life on the Pad fie Coast. i 5 

was not with him when he died, but saw him decently 
buried in the Gold Hill Cemetery. His papers are in my 
possession. Some old mining-deed receipts, and one piece 
of mining stock, fifty shares Kentucky, are of no immedi- 
ate or probable future value. This knowledge I obtained 
to-day from looking over them for the first time. Among 
them is a memorandum book, date 1859. '^^^ first entry, 

January, Monday 3, in pencil, thus: "Alpheus. , 

Charlotte Phillips, Marshaltown, Marshal County, Iowa. 
I promised to write her a letter on March loth. Jan- 
uary 4th my out-fit for the mines." (Giving the items.) 

"February i, 1859. I started to-day, at one o'clock, for 
Pike's Peak, from Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minne- 
sota." Continuing memoranda to July 3d ; every day writ- 
ten in pencil, and dim. 

He was very uncommunicative in regard to his family, 
his father excepted, as before named, and then only when 
drinking was the subject. Had a brother a store-keeper, 
well off; did not wish to let them know of his roughing it 
out here. The day before he died we pressed him to give 
their address and settle up his matters. He laughed at the 
idea of his dying, but would when he got well off. My 
idea was, he or his family was formerly from New York 
State. I may be wrong. He was honest to a fault ; indus- 
trious and visionary ; had no enemies, and really brought 
on his own death by attempting to drive a Secessionist 
from a garden while at his work. Having made previous 
threats and warning to leave, the man prepared himself for 
defense. Charles McNair got over the fence to drive him 
from his work, or thrash him. The gun was fired when he 
was advancing upon the party who shot him. The party ran 
awa)' ; no arrest made. I never knew the name of this man, 
but could learn by inquiry. 

I have given you all the information in my possession. 
Will send on all papers, and should this prove to be your 



1 6 Ten Years iti Nevada. 

brother, 3'ou can learn of him and also of me by hunting 
up Mr. Ruggles, Helm, Tama County, Iowa. He is in the 
lime-burning business. He is one of our old Washoe pio- 
neers ; knew Charles McNair well. It is just possible, from 
what I know of him, and his desire to prevent any knowl- 
edge of him reaching his family, that he might have changed 
his initials. I think he was called Charley on the plains. 
Should you look up, Mr. Helm, take this with you. Any 
further iniormation will be given without delay. 

Yours, etc., 

Geo. G. Waters. 

P. S. — Charles McNair, shot by Elgin, May 29, 1865 ; 
died June 2d following ; buried same day ; lived in Cali- 
fornia ; a portion of the time of his being on the coast. 

Gold Hill, 

Nevada, March 22, 1869. 
Mr. C. W. McNair, 

Sir: — Yours of February 13th to P. M., Virginia City, and 
also one of same date to me, received. Nearly all of the 
numerous questions you have propounded in the two let- 
ters before me I have already answered in quite a lengthy 
letter of a previous date, directed to a Mr. McNair, at Wash- 
ington, Iowa, he or yourself receiving that letter, and I in- 
fer it has been received. It seemed to me it covered nearly 
the whole there was to be said in the matter, Charles Mc- 
Nair was killed by Elgin, May 29, 1865, by his own unwar- 
ranted act. He was shot while rushing towards Elgin to 
whip him and make him leave the garden, having previ- 
ously threatened Elgin, that if he did not leave by a certain 
time, he would thrash him. Elgin immediately left ; has 
not been here since the shooting. The shot lodged in the 
lower portion of the abdomen and pelvis. He was attended 
by Dr, Webber, and died the third day after the shooting ; 
was buried by subscription among a few who knew him. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 17 

He died at the house of E. F. Glover, in American Flat, 
two miles south of Gold Hill. He worked on the Ameri- 
can Flat Toll Road for me. Had no means, but left some 
debts behind him, owing M. Yost eighty or more dollars, 
myself forty or more. His papers are in my desk, of no 
possible value to any one any further than to identify him, 
which I consider doubtful, as I have written before all I 
knew of him. He was Union to fanaticism; light com- 
plexion, light hair, light blue eyes ; honest to a cent ; from 
twenty-five to twenty-eight years old ; he always signed 
his name Charles McNair ; left the States, I think, in 1859; 
was changeable in his disposition. I wished him to make a 
will, believing he must die. He would not hear to anything 
of the kind, and died sooner than we expected, as mortifi- 
cation set in rapidly. He did not wish his friends to know 
of his condition until he made means to gratify some feel- 
ing he entertained. His father, he said, drank too much 
liquor. He would not taste it on any account. Judge E. 
Strother, Gold Hill ; M. Yost, ditto ; James A. Rigby, 
American Flat ; M. Gladding, Gold Hill, all knew him. 

You do not subscribe yourself as a relative of his, or that 
one of your family or relatives came out here. I do not 
know your object in making those inquiries, as this is the 
third instance I have endeavored to give information to 
some one on the same subject. 1 am no more enlightened 
than when commencing. You can learn from the governor 
of Nevada my standing here since 1861, or from the post- 
master of Gold Hill. His papers will be forwarded to any 
of his family who prove themselves such to my satisfaction. 
Had brothers and sisters. Was formerly from New York. 

Yours respectfully, 

G. G. Waters. 

P. S. — My impression from his conversation was he had 
friends in New York, and a brother somewhere West that 
was well off, and could or would help him if he made the 



1 8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

request, but would rather suffer than ask assistance. I have 
repeatedly asked him to state where his friends lived, as his 
mother would be anxious. " Not yet," was his answer. " If 
I am poor, I do not want them to know it." When better 
off he intended returning. Suffered no pain whatever. 
Sure of recovery. G. G. W. 

Gold Hill, April 27, 1869. 
Mr. Packard, 

Dear Sir: — Yours of the same month received to-day. 
From what you state you are satisfied he is the son of the 
family now residing in New York State. 

The package forwarded is all that cam^ to our posses- 
sion. Mining deeds would be of some importance if the 
Atlantic was worth anything. I know he owned in this 
mine, which is now incorporated. I believe he never signed 
the trust deed ; there has been no work done upon it for 
five years. The Kentucky piece of stock inclosed is worth- 
less ; the mine has been bought up by the Water Company 
chiefly under assessment sales. I think he has been sold 
out at one dollar per share. If necessary, I can be referred 
to at any time while residing here. I have forwarded by 
Pacific Union Express Company a small package directed 
to Charles W. McNair, Nunda, Livingston County, N. Y., 
care E. W. Packard. The charges to be paid by the par- 
ties receiving the same. 

Yours respectfully, 

Geo G. Waters. 

Parcel goes by steamer. Acknowledge receipt thereof, 
and obliere G. G. W. 



'to' 



Gold Hill, 

Nevada, May 8, 1879. 
Mr. McNAiJi, 

Dear Sir: — Yours of 26th ultimo received. In answer 
thereto I have written quite explicitly to members of his 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 19 

family in regard to the death of Charles INIcNair, who was 
killed by Elgin, in May, or rather died June 6, 1865. I 
have some days since forwarded by steamer, to his parents 
in New York State, all the effects owned by him at the 
time of his death. He bought a suit of clothes to appear 
at Mr. Lincoln's funeral procession. They were stolen 
from his cabin, as he told us, some weeks before his death. 
He had no trunk to my knowledge. Had been roaming 
around California considerable. He had worked for me 
on the American Flat Toll Road, but had not been for 
three months previous to his death. I went to him with 
material to write his will; he would not listen to anything 
of the kind ; was sure to get well. Mrs. Waters went to 
him each day, a distance of one and one-half miles. She 
saw him at six o'clock in the evening. He had watchers 
with him all the night. Mortification set in. He wished to 
be left to sleep. Died the easiest death possible. Dr. Web- 
ber attended him. From your description I have no doubt 
he is your brother. I am quite positive he had a brother 
Hugh in Wisconsin, and several sisters ; also his father 
was very intemperate. He was very visionary; had streaks 
of good sense above the average; his business faculties 
were not good ; he was honest, and wanted a friend \.o lean 
upon ; said he would not write or return to his people until 
he got rich ; his parents lived in New York State; would 
never say where ; he would not give their address after 
being shot. How he heard his brother was a merchant and 
well off, I do not know. I knew him since 1861. He had 
no property except what I have forwarded. He had a sur- 
vey and location made of mill sites, in American Ravine, in 
partnership with me. I advanced the money to locate and 
survey. There was nothing ever done upon the ground 
after the year expired from date of record. The ground, so 
far as I know, is worthless, and still unclaimed by me or 
any one else. He owed Mr. Yost, as I ascertained last week. 



20 Ten Years in Nevada. 

$100. Mr. Yost still works for me. He owed me $48. His 
funeral expenses were paid by his friends, each giving 
something. The doctor was never paid. If you will write 
to Ruggles, Helm, Tama County, Iowa, and learn if he is 
there, as I believe he is, you can then go and see him, 
learning perhaps more of Charles McNair than you could 
of me. He knew him well ; also his means and everything 
connected with him, after he became acquainted with him. 
I have written so repeatedly to different McNairs in regard 
to his death, that I do not wish to repeat it here. I think 
my last to E. W. Packard, in April last, ought to close the 
matter. I liked C. McNair for his honesty and simplicity. 
See Mr. Helm, as directed, and learn all you can from him ; 
he may have told him of his family, but I think not. I have 
done in this matter no more than I would hope to have 
done for me in like circumstances. His parents, no doubt, 
are anxious. He was well cared for, and received Christian 
burial, by an Episcopal minister, in the Gold Hill Grave- 
yard. I suppose there is not one who thinks of him now, ex- 
cept ourselves. We often go to his grave. Life here is so fast 
and fleeting; the mines kill many ; the saloons and team- 
ing on these mountains do their share. It is not like your 
Eastern country. He deserved a better fate. 

Yours respectfully, 

Geo. G. Waters. 

My mother never recovered from the shock or seemed 
to rally after the news came, but wandered around her gar- 
den and house in a listless mood, taking no notice of any- 
thing, not even her choice flowers, till I could endure the 
sight no longer ; and one morning I astonished the family 
by telling them I had something to tell them, and did not 
want any of them to oppose me, for it will make no differ- 
ence ; all you can say will not change my mind in the least, 
no matter how wild you may think me. By this time all 
eyes were upon me ; even my mother raised her eyes with 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 21 

interest, and, looking straight at her, I said : Mother, I am 
going to California as soon as I can possibly get ready ; I 
have nothing to hinder me from going, and the railroad 
now runs through trains. 

I am going to find Charley, if he is alive, and bring him 
back to you. If he is dead, I will find his grave, and learn 
the full particulars concerning him. 

This had the desired effect ; she seemed to rally at once, 
and took an interest in all my plans. I was keeping a hoop- 
skirt factory at the time, and doing a good business. I 
immediately sold out my goods at cost, or any price I could 
get for them — all that 1 had made up. The balance I left 
with my sister to do what she pleased with them. I col- 
lected all the debts standing out. I turned everything 
into money that I could This took only three weeks. 

I now packed my trunks, bade my friends good-bye, and I 
believe I had got as far as Buffalo, where I was taking din- 
ner. My niece had just been married, and as I did not get 
there in time for the wedding, I decided to stay a week 
with them, for I had a little business to transact in the cit}'. 
I had only consulted with one lawyer on my business, and 
I decided to call on one of the best in Buffalo. 

I was directed to ex-President Fillmore ; I found him at 
his office. He examined my papers and letters and said : " I 
think your brother had property, and I think you will get 
it if you get a good lawyer; there is nothing to hinder 
you. I only wish I was young again, I would go with you 
and see that you had your rights. I would not ask a better 
show to make a fortune, both for you and myself. Perse- 
vere, and you will come out all right. It is a great under- 
taking for a lady, but I see you have a great deal of firm- 
ness and resolution about you, and I have no doubt you 
will conquer ; but do not let the lawyers out there cheat 
you. Have you money to carry on a suit, or how do 
you intend to manage ? " 1 told him I had enough to last 
me a few months, after I got there, till I got work. 



22 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" What kind of work ? " said he. 

Sewing, teaching, or washing, said I. If I cannot do 
better, then anything I can get to support myself and child, 
and accomplish the purpose for which I am going. 

"Spoken like a true woman," said he; "may you be 
prospered in your undertaking." 

I talked about an hour with him. When I arose to go he 
shook my hand, and as he did so he slipped a ten-dollar bill 
in it, saying : " Take that to remember me by ; it is small, 
but all I happen to have ; it may come handy after you get 
there. I give it to show you how truly I wish you success, 
and now may God bless you." 

I should judge the President about sixty-five ; he was 
light complexioned, dark expressive blue eyes ; his hair was 
silvery white ; he wore it combed to one side, and tossed 
back from his full, intellectual forehead ; he was about five 
feet nine ; rather stout built ; he was a very fine looking 
gentleman. You have here a pretty good description of 
President Fillmore. 

The week soon passed ; another parting came, and we are 
again seated in the cars which are bearing us along on our 
journey. 



CHAPTER II. 

Our Journey to Chicago and Omaha — Journey to Reno — Our Arrival in 
Virginia City — Looking for Work — Sick Child. 

y^^UR journey to Chicago was very pleasant, as we passed 
,1^;^ through many towns and villages, seeing a great many 
interesting sights. At 9:40 we reached Oberlin, The first 
free college for the education of white and black alike 
ever erected in the United States was erected here ; and 
as it is the place where I spent four years of my school 
life, I raised the window to see if I could catch a glimpse 
of one familiar face in all that vast throng which crowded 
the platform. Before I had time to recognize a person the 
whistle blew, and off we started again. 

The rest of the journey is passed in darkness We 
reached Chicago at six in the morning, and had to wait 
till the nine o'clock train left. We got breakfast, then 1 left 
Charley to watch our baggage till I went and bought our 
tickets for Omaha, and get my baggage checked. At the 
ticket office they wanted me to pay as much lor my ticket 
as a through ticket from New York would cost. I would 
not buy it, but went to the Central Depot ; saw Mr. St. 
John, the general agent ; he made the deduction. He was 
a very kind, gentlemanly person. He gave me a letter to 
the agent at Omaha, requesting him to let me have my 
ticket from there on at the same rates. After checking my 
baggage I took a stroll about the city as far as I dared go 
from the depot. At 9:40 we took the train again. All 
that day we passed over beautiful prairies, large fields 



24 Ten Years in Nevada. 

of grain and corn, and some of the largest 'pumpkins and 
tallest corn I ever saw growing in my life. Again we pass 
off into the open prairies, dotted with beautiful wild 
flowers. Now we pass a smart little town, and then fields 
of grain ; then strike the open prairie again until we reach 
Altona, 111. Here we stop to see an old friend, James 
McKown. He was a mm who, when a boy, had lived 
with my father for several years, and had left home when 
Charley did ; and they had traveled together as far as this 
place, and he had stopped here to see his brother, and 
Charley had gone on to Iowa to see his brother Hugh. 

They intended to meet again on the plains, but by some 
accident they never met again, although both reached Cali- 
fornia. James staid till 1861, then came back and made us a 
visit as soon as he landed in New York. He then went to 
Iowa. From there he went to the army, had passed through 
it safe, and on returning home had married the lady of his 
choice, and was now living here in Altona, carrying on the 
blacksmithing business. 

My mother did not like to have me go alone to Cali- 
fornia, and I, to please her, had written to James and asked 
him if he would go with me if I would pay all expenses. 
He wrote he would do all in his power to assist me in hunt- 
ing up Charley, or news concerning his affairs. And 1 was 
to stop for him on my way. When I got there 1 found he 
was a married man. He introduced me to a very nice liitle 
woman, who received me more as a sister than a stranger. 
I liked her very much. I told James he need not go if it 
was not convenient. 

He said, " I will ; for if anything should happen to you 
I could never look your mother in the face again ; but I 
cannot start under three days." 

I had a very pleasant visit with them. The night before 
we left, his brother Elie came in and said he was going with 
us ; said he was all ready. We then made an addition to 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 25 

our lunch-basket. In the mornini^ we bid adieu to his wife 
and child, and again resumed our journey. 

Nothins^ of note occurred till we reached Council BlufTs. 
It was about ten o'clock at ni^i^ht, and in the most terrific 
thunder storm I ever witnessed in my life, and I think it 
lasted the loni^est. It was the last I witnessed for ten years. 

The bridge had been carried off by a flood, and we had 
to cross the river by boat. We were beset by hotel-run- 
ners to take their free cabs. We selected one, and took our 
seats. The cab drove on the deck of the steamer, and we 
had a double ride over to Omaha ; the ste.i:ner rocking 
and pitching, the horses rearing and jumping, and taking all 
the strength of the driver to hold them. We could only 
see where we were going by the flashes of lightning. We 
finally reached the other side, and we drew a long breath 
of relief as the boat touched the shore, when we drove off 
on terra fir dux. 

The horses now trotted off at a brisk pac3, which soon 
brought us to the hotel. As we stepped up3n the pave- 
ment the rain descended in sheets. We were glad to beat 
a retreat to the sitting-room, but there was no fire there, 
and our outer garments were wet. We called for rooms. 
We got two adjoining, that we might be near each other in 
case of accident. 

Charley was tired and sleepy. I laid him on the bed. but 
did not undress him, for I expected the house to be struck 
at every flash of lightning. I lay down beside him, after 
putting my shawl up to the window. I thought to rest a 
little if I could not sleep, when, to my horror, something 
commenced to crawl on my face and neck. I took the light, 
and found the bed swarming with bugs. I shook them 
from us both, and laid Charley on a sofa at the other side 
of the room ; but he had not lain there long before they 
were fairly eating him alive. 

I took him up. brushed him thoroughly, and sat down 



26 Ten Years in Nevada. 

with him in my lap, put my feet on another chair, and my 
dress tucked up to prevent the bugs from crawling upon us. 

About this time my light went out, and there I had to sit 
till morning, while the storm continued to rage without. 
Most of the time the house seemed on fire, so frequent were 
the flashes of lightning. 

The storm spent its fury towards morning. The day 
broke calm and clear. 

I met James in the hall. He asked how i had rested. 
Said he and Elie had not slept any all the night for bugs. 
Just then he caught sight of Charley's face covered with 
red spots, and said : " What ails the child ; has he the 
measles ? " I told him it was bugs. 

" Well, let's get out of this as soon as possible." The 
waiter came and asked us if we would have breakfast. 
** No," said James ; " I have had enough of this house." 

He went to the desk and called for his bill. "What have 
you had?" said the clerk. James looked him straight in 
the face and said : " Bugs for four ! " "Zf tJiat all,'' said the 
clerk. " Your bill is $5." " What is the extra dollar for? " 
" For the cab." " I thought it was free ! " said James " It 
was, from the river to the hotel ; but not across the river ; 
25 cents apiece for the ferry." 

James paid the bill, and went out and got an express to 
take us to the depot, 

There we ate our breakfast from our basket. I then gave 
James money to buy his ticket with, while I bought my 
own and checked my baggage. 

Just as he was going to buy it, he met a friend, an old 
Californian he had not seen for years, and he forgot every- 
thing. When the whistle blew he had no ticket. 

The c)nductor soon came around for tickets. James 
paid him the money, and he charged him $3 more than I 
had to pay, 

James asked him how that was ? 



Life on the Facijic Coast. 27 

He said it was ttieir law — if a person neglected to get a 
ticket, to charge extra. 

He and James had some words about it, which attracted 
the attention of all the passengers ; and in the fuss he for- 
got to take a ticket of the conductor, who did not remain 
on the train all day ; but a new one took his place, who 
immediately called for tickets. 

When he called for James' ticket, he was as bad off as be- 
fore. He told the conductor how it was, but he refused to 
believe him, and told him that the story would not do him, 
for he must have the money or the ticket. 

Mr. John Warwick, a man well known on the Pacific 
Coast, happened to be in the car just back of our seat, and, 
having discovered that James was a Mason, like himself, 
•took up the case at once, and told the conductor he had 
seen him pay the monev, and $3 more than he ought to 
have paid ; " and not only I but all the passengers saw him 
pay it," said he. " That is nothing to me," said the con- 
ductor ; '* he must pay me, or off he goes in ten minutes." 
The passengers all said the}' had seen the same; but he 
was determined to have the monev. 

James rose up, told the conductor he would go back and 
get his money or he would whip nim. But I would not 
listen to this, and paid for a ticket, and gave it to him. 

After this he and Mr. Warwick became fast friends. He 
went (jut and tried to talk the conductor out of the money; 
he told him it was nearly every dollar I had. He said he 
could not help that; people should not travel without 
plenty of money. 

Mr. Warwick told him it was wholesale robbery to make 
a man pay twice for his fare from Omaha to San Francisco. 
He replied : " That is my business, not yours," and passed 
on to another car. 

Mr. Warwick told the passengers they should all remem- 
ber to take plenty of money before any of them started out 



."28 Ten Years in Nevada. 

on another journey; "for," said he, " it seems ev'try con- 
ductor wants the price of a ticket." The passengers said 
they would look out and come prepared to accommodate 
them all. - 

The reader will rernember this was when the road was 
first finished, and the fare was very high, just about double 
what it is now. 

Mr. Warwick had a talk with James. He told him I was 
paying the fare, and he was afraid 1 had not much money 
left. He told him why he was accompanying me, and Mr. 
Warwick felt so sorry to see how we had been robbed by 
the conductor that he went around among the passengers 
and collected about $io, and presented it to Charley. 

Charley said he would go and ask his mamma if he should 
take it, but could not be persuaded to until he had first 
asked me, much to the amusemsat of the passengers. 

Mr. Warwick came with him, and said : " He has been 
so particular, you must not refuse him ; besides, it is our 
duty, under the circumstances, to assist you. The passen- 
gers all feel very sorry for you." 

I thanked him, and told Charley to take the money. He 
put it in my lap, and went off with Mr. Warwick to thank 
the passengers who had so kindly donated it. 

After this he was a sort of pet among the passengers. 

We now decided to get no more warm meals, as we had 
now but $35 left. We thought we would need that when 
we landed in Virginia City. As soon as a new conductor 
got on the train at Ogden, he asked me for my child's 
ticket. I told him I did not have to pay for him, and he 
passed on. 

But a short time after he observed Charley talking with 
some men, and, coming to me, said : " Madam, that child 
talks too mature tor a five-year-old. I know he is pretty 
small, but he must be older." I did not tell you he was but 
-five, for he is nine; but Mr. St. John passed him to 



Life on the Paeific Coast. 29 

Omaha, and you are the first one that has asked me his 
age. " Well, I guess you will have to give me $20 for his 
tare!" I told him I was only going to Reno, and also told 
him what bad luck 1 had already had; but he was like the 
other two — a regular blood-sucker. 

He would have $20; a.id not one ceiit less would he take. 

James and Mr. Warwick both happened to be out of the 
car, else we might have got rid of paying it. 1 now had 
but $15 left, and we had been ten days without a warm 
meal, and now we got supper. This took $3 more. After 
this we contented ourselves with our own lunch. As soon 
as Mr. Warwick discovered this he invited us to go and eat 
with him. This we declined, but he would not take " no " 
for an answer. lie would take Charley and carry him off 
in triumph, saying if I did not come he should lose his 
supper in looking after him ; so there was nothing for me to 
do but follow. 

He would seat us and help our plates, and before we 
could scarcely get to eating, the whistle blew, and we 
would make all haste to the cars. But Mr. Warwick 
had no notion of being swindled out of his money. He 
would invariably take a large newspaper, spread it down 
on his chair, empty his plate of meat and potatoes, or what- 
ever he had on it, catch up roast beef, boiled ham, cakes, 
bread, pie, or anything within his reach ; roll them all up, 
drink his coffee, and then run for the cars, just in time to 
swing aboard. 

We soon learned to secure our plates full, and then eat 
what we could after. Then, if the bell rang, we tumbled it 
in a paper, and ran back. Soon all the passengers did the 
same. They said these boarding-houses all belonged to the 
company, and this hurrying people from their meals was 
done on purpose. 

When we took our seats we spixad out our paper, and 
had our nice, warm dinner. It was equal to a picnic all 



30 Ten Years in Nevada. 

■over the cars. Some had small boards they had picked up 
here and there, and spread their papers on them for tables. 

When I did not go with Mr. Warwick he wanted to bring 
-enough for all of us. 

Whenever the train stopped on the prairies, he would 
help Charley off, have a run, and gather specimens of stone, 
and occasionally wild flowers — for flowers are very scarce 
west of Omaha. 

In traveling through Nebraska we saw nothing but 
prairies covered with tall grass, which had been burned in 
many places ; and in some places it was still burning. 

The Platte River runs along the entire length of the 
State and passes into Wyoming. The north bianch also 
crosses the track in Nebraska. The south branch forked 
-off on the south side of the track, and runs for some miles 
by the side of it, then passes off into Colorado. Several 
small branches come very near the track, then dash off in 
the prairies, and are lost sight of. 

Before we leave Nebraska we strike the north-east cor- 
ner of Colorado. Here is where the South Platte leaves us. 
The eastern part of this State is all prairies, while the west- 
•ern half is mountainous. 

Now we pass into Wyoming. Here the Black Hills, far- 
famed for Indian troubles, loom up at the north of the 
track. About midway ot the State the Platte River takes 
a turn just to the west of the Black Hills, and crosses the 
track, and passes off into the mountains. To the south we 
are hemmed in by mountains on either side of the track all 
through the State, coming very near the track on both 
sides in many places. These mountains are rightly named, 
for they are nothing but huge boulders, one piled upon the 
other, forming all kinds of objects ; and nearly every point 
has its own name. 

Some of these points are named as follows : The Twins, 
The Nuns, and Table Rock, which is a large rock, between 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 31 

thirty and forty feet square, setting on a long level bank or 
i-ock about twenty feet above the river; The Monks, Pul- 
pit Rock, and Castle Rocks, which are a long range, re- 
sembling ancient ruins. The Devil's Slide is also a great 
curiosity ; it resembles a long, narrow line hedged in on 
both sides by a high stone fence, with cap rocks standing 
up edgeways, just as you often see stone fences built and 
finished off on the top. Imagine the lane running down the 
side of a steep mountain instead of a level piece of ground, 
and you have a perfect picture of the Devil's Slide, 

About twenty feet to the west of this is another slide, not 
quite so wide or high. Some of the passengers on the train 
asked whose slide that was, when a quick-witted Irishman 
sang out : "And sure and don't you know ; it is Quid Mrs. 
Divils." His wife said : "■ Tr civ fur you, Mike ; yees always 
thinking after the women." And we all had a good laugh 
at Mike's expense. The slide is about four feet wide, and 
runs from the top to the bottom of the mountain, and is 
very steep. I do not think it would take his Majesty very 
long to make the trip. 

The Devil's Gate is also a very interesting point. It is a 
tunnel through the side of a mountain. It is not more than 
six feet deep. Through this you can see a small lake on the 
other side. 

At this point the rocks come so close to the sides of the 
cars that you can pick them from the sides through the 
windows. The trains always move very slowly going 
through the gate, and the passengers have a good view of 
the scenery. The thousand-mile tree is found here. I be- 
lieve it takes its name from its distance from some place 
along the line. 

Ogden is situated at the junction of the Salt Lake City 
Road, and is the largest place west of Omaha and east of 
Reno. You stop here to change cars. You can see the 
lake from this point. In passing around Salt Lake the road 



32 Te7i Years in Nevada. 

takes a big bend, and brin_2^s us very near the boundary line 
of Idaho, and we get a good view of its mountains. 

The ground at their base is covered with broken rock, 
resembling pumice-stone. They are of different color. 

There must have been a volcano, in ages past, which 
threw out large quantities of lava. While you get a good 
view of the mountains on one side, in Idaho, you see Salt 
Lake, in Utah, on the other. 

In Utah we find the first cultivated fields since we left 
the eastern part of Colorado. We also see fine fruit trees, 
most every farm having a large orchard and nice gardens. 
Poultry of every description is raised in abundance ; also 
large flocks of sheep, cattle, and horses. Th'ey seem to be 
very thrifty farmers all through Utah. 

Passing out of Utah we enter the great desert of Nevada, 
or the great American Desert. It lies to the west of the 
lake in Utah, and covers a large portion of Eastern Nevada. 
Nothing grows on it but sage brush. 

When about one-third of the way across the State we 
strike the Humboldt River, which crosses the track three 
times. Along this river we see small ranches, whose herds 
of cattle are pastured in the daytime, and kept in a high 
inclosure at night — a sort of barracks to prevent the In- 
dians from driving them off. There is no timber growing 
along these rivers, save a few cotton-wood trees and stunted 
willows. The traveler can always see large herds of ante- 
lopes near these rivers ; also the ground-dog or prairie- 
wolf, which burrow in the ground like the wood-chuck. 
Wild ducks, prairie-chickens, and grouse are found in 
abundance. The Reese River also crosses the track. And 
here, let me say, is the place where the great raining ex- 
citement took place some years ago, which caused the ruin 
of hundreds of people, and the death of many. 

Elko is the largest town on the line now till we reach 
Reno. Many of the little towns along the line have noth- 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 33 

ing but tent-houses, and the sides and roofs are often blown 
off in wind storms. 

We stopped one day in a town called Summit for a train 
that was two hours behind time, when one of these storms 
arose while we were there, and several buildings had their 
sides, next to the cars, blown away. There stood men 
measuring cloth at one counter, while at another a man was 
filling a jug, while others were hastily gathering the pails, 
baskets, and other things from the sidewalk in front. In 
another place men were playing cards.. A pile of money 
lay in the center ot the table, around which four men sat 
playing. Each one had a revolver lying by him on the 
table. 

At a bar, which seemed to be the only solid part of the 
building, several men were drinking, while a man behind 
the bar kept filling their glasses. 

None seemed to be disturbed by the storm. In a board- 
ing-house they were just taking dinner. You could see 
them passing baked beans and pork, and all laughing and 
enjoying the dinner as if they were unconscious of the 
havoc the wind was making around them. There is but 
one wooden building in this place at this time. It is a store 
and post-ofhce together. 

Now, the train we are waiting for comes dashing up, and 
soon we are on the move again, and nothing of note occurs 
until we reach Reno, at one o'clock at night. 

This is our nearest railroad point to Virginia City. The 
stage is waiting, and fourteen grown people and one child 
are stowed away on the four seats. 

The agent puts his head in and calls for the fare, which 
is $4 a head. I have but $11.25 left. I offered him $10 tor 
three of us; told him the child ought to go for half price, 
when he said : " I have no half fare." 

I told him I had but $1.25. He said : "You will have to 
stop over, then." 



34 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I gave him the last $1.25. He threw back the 25 cents, 
saying he did not want such money as that. It was 25 
cents in scrip. 

He said he must have another dollar. One of the passen- 
gers said : " You have robbed her of all she has, and what 
more do you want? " "Another dollar," said he. Just at 
this moment Mr. Warwick, who was going on to San Fran- 
cisco, and who came to see us safe aboard the stage, asked 
the man if taking all we had did not satisfy him ? He said : 
" None of your d — d business." And, turning to me, said 
"pile out! " 

Mr. Warwick said : " Keep your seat ; " and he gave 
him the dollar, and asked him his name. 

" Never mind that; I am in a hurry," said he. 

But some of the passengers said his name was Chamber- 
lain. 

We now shook hands with our kind friend, and he ran 
off to his train. 

Just as we are about to start, here comes the agent with 
another passenger ; but we are already full, four to a seat, 
except the one I occupy. 

He says : " Madam, you will have to take the child on 
your lap to make room for this man." 

" Oh, yes ; there is always room for another in a stage," 
said one of the passengers, with a shir. " He said it don't 
make any difference ; the child does not weigh much." He 
has just weighed $4, said I. " Can't help that ; this man 
has got to go, if you stay." James offered to hold him. 
The driver now mounted his box, cracked his whip, and 
away we started at a brisk trot. 

It was very dark, and the road rough. The stage is 
drawn by eight horses. The passengers are often pitched 
into each other's laps, and many bruises they get before 
morning. Charley got sleepy, and I took him, before we 
had traveled a mile, and held him till we reached Virginia 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 35 

City. The outside passengers had the best seats, for they 
all had straps with which to hold on. 

I had an outside seat, and was not tossed about like some 
others. 

We found it very cold riding in this cramped position. 

At six o'clock in the morning we were put down before 
the International Hotel, in Virginia City. 

For a few moments we could hardly stand up, we were 
so completely chilled through. Our baggage was taken 
into the office, and we all sat by the stove till we were 
warm. They asked us if we would have rooms. I told 
them I did not wish for one, but would Hke to leave my 
baggage there for a short time. It was now August 30th, 
and I left home the nth. I was anxious to let my family 
know of my safe arrival in Virginia City. I did not like to 
open my trunk till I got a room, and my paper was in it. I 
went to the post-office and asked for paper and envelope. I 
offered the 25 cents in scrip, and they, too, refused it, but 
said I was welcome to the paper. 

I inclosed the scrip, and sent it back where paper money 
was appreciated. I happened to have two stamps in my 
purse, so I posted my letter, and started out to look for 
work and a room. I passed up Union to B Street. Here 
I got a room in the third story of the Collins House, kept 
by Mrs. McKinney, for 50 cents a night. I then went back 
to the hotel for my things. 

I found James there waiting for me. He had been out 
looking for work, and had got a job in Mr. Hemingway's 
blacksmith shop for $6 a day. He said he was going to 
sleep in the shop. He assisted me to get my things over to 
my room, and then went off to work, for he had eaten some 
lunch while he was waiting for me. 

When I came down from my room the lady asked me if 
I would have breakfast. I told her we had just eaten a 
lunch, for we had plenty in our basket. She said : " You 



36 Ten Years in Nevada. 

had better have a cup of coffee." I told her I did not care 
for any. I was anxious to get work, for my money had 
run short. I asked her if she had any work. She said she 
had none, but I must go in and have a cup of coffee. She 
would take no denial, but sent her little girl to show me the 
way to the restaurant. 

After I had taken a cup of strong tea I went out again to 
look for work, and also for a small house, for I was anxious 
to do our own cooking, as board was $1 a day. I could 
save half by boarding ourselves. 

I first called at the house of F. A. Tritte. The lady was 
sick, so the nurse informed me, and did not wish for help, 
as she kept a seamstress in the house. The nurse said she 
thought I might get work of Mrs. Beck, at No. 21 North 
A Street. Said she is a very benevolent woman, and if she 
has not any, she may know who has. 

I thanked her, and started on, inquiring at every house 
and street, till I came to No. 21, without getting work. No. 
21 was a handsome two-story white house, with French 
windows and green blinds ; a porch with large, white pillars, 
which supported a very handsome verandah above. Two 
beautiful bird cages hung suspended from, the ceiling with 
two canaries in them. The door was adorned with a bell, 
and a heavy door-plate, with the name of H. S. Beck upon it. 
A neat little yard in front was surrounded by a white fence. 
The yard had several fruit trees, each loaded with fruit 
nearly ripe ; climbing rose-bushes and several other plants 
adorned the yard, and a portion of which was covered with 
young wheat. 

Such was the home of the lady who had been so highly 
recommended to me. I had time to observe all these things 
while waiting the answer to the bell. I could not help 
wondering what she was like, when a lady, below the 
medium size, made her appearance. She was a plump, 
little woman, very clear complexion, neither brunette nor 



Life on tJic Pacific Coast. 37 

blonde, crimson cheeks and lips, sparkling black eyes, in 
which the deeper feelings of her nature seemed slumber- 
ing. Her dark brown hair was brushed plainly back from 
her broad, German brow, and done up in a chignon at the 
back, while two glossy curls trailed at its side. She wore 
a black-and-white calico wrapper, neatly finished at the 
neck, wrists, and pocket, with a narrow ruffle of the same 
material; a dainty white apron, stand-up linen collar, fast- 
ened by a carbuncle-pin, with ear-drops to match, com- 
pleted her toilet. 

I have thus minutely described the house and its owner, 
because both became very dear to me — the house where I 
spent many happy hours, and the lady as my dearest friend 
and constant companion. 

1 found her more than worthy of the high recommend I 
had received of her. Being dressed so much more plainly 
than the rich and gaudily-dressed ladies I had met with at 
the other houses, I took her for hired help, instead of the 
lady herself. I asked to see Mrs. Beck. She said : " That 
is my name. Will you walk in ? " 

I followed her through a hall to a richly-furnished sitting- 
room, in which every luxury and comfort was seen. 

A nice piano stood there, and tables, what-nots, and 
brackets were loaded with books, shells, vases, and other 
ornaments. Beautiful engravings, chromos, and family pict- 
ures adorned the walls. 

We passed through to a neat little dining-room. " You 
will excuse me for bringing you in here, for we arc just 
having a cup of coffee. Will you have a cup \\\X\\ us?" 
said she. " This is Mrs. Whittaker, and your name is — " 
Mathews, said I. 

" This is my husband, Mr. Beck," said she. Mr. Beck 
was a man five feet eight or nine inches high, dark brown 
hair, and eyes to match, and seemed a verj^ pleasant but 
quiet man. I thanked her, and told her I had been to 



38 Ten Years in Nevada. 

breakfast. I am looking for sewing to do. I am a stranger, 
just from the East, and out of money, and it is necessary I 
should get work immediately. I was directed to you by 
a lady on this street. 

" Well, I am sorry, but I have no work at present ; but 
Mrs. Hungerford was wanting some one yesterday, and 1 
think you will suit her ; and by the time you get through 
there I will try and have some for you. I will cut out some 
underclothes; they are always needed some time. If yon 
do not get work there, come back and get your dinner and 
supper, and I will see what can be done. There, take this," 
said she ; " it is all the change I have, except four bits 
(which is 50 cents of our Eastern money), anrd I will keep 
that for fear some one might call who would need it, and I 
would have nothing to give them." She held $3 towards 
me. " Here is a half; it is the widow's mite. It is all I 
have by me," said Mrs. Whittaker. " Well," said Mrs. 
Beck, *' if you can afford that, here goes the other half ; 
we will make it even change for luck ; it will help you till 
you do get work." 

Mrs. Whittaker was a widow who supported herself by 
sewing and teaching, and this was really more than she 
could afford to give, for she had a young son whom she 
was educating. I thanked them both very kindly, but de- 
clined taking their money ; told them I preferred to work 
for my money, as I was perfectly able to do so. " Oh ! you 
must not be so proud as that. I know you have just come 
from the East, where it would be considered begging, but 
the people here do not look at it in that light. We are 
more liberal here. I used to live there once, in New York 
City, and know all about it ; but here they do not stand on 
ceremony, but take all they can get, and get all they can." 
Whether they need it or not? said I. "Yes; there is 
always plenty of poor people to whom you can give what 
you have to spare," said she. I asked her if she knew of a 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 39 

house. She said : " I think I know of two rooms in a brick 
house ; I will go with you to-night and see." 1 now started 
to go, but she said : " You must drink a cup of coffee ; it is 
all ready." And before I could say a word she had tilled 
my child's hands lull of cake. " You had better take the 
money," said she. No, I said ; a person that is able to 
work is no object of charity. 

" I am afraid you won't do for Virginia City," and reluct- 
antly returned the money to her purse. I bade her gooJ- 
morning, and called on Mrs. Hungerford. She lived with 
her daughter, Mrs. John Mackey, the wife of the present 
bonanza king. Yes, she was in want of a seamstress to assist 
in getting her little daughter ready for school. She en- 
gaged me for $1 a day, and board for myself and child. 
" This is, she said, the same as $3." The price of a seam- 
stress was $3, but she could not afford it ; she had rather 
board us. " You can have the boy in the room with you, if 
you choose, or he can play in the yard with Ada." This 
made it very pleasant, and I went to work with a will. At 
lunch time she invited me down to eat. It was a little side- 
table in the kitchen. She said : " We always take our lunch 
here," and sat down and ate with us. 

At night she went down some time before she called me. 
When I went down we were again seated at the side-table, 
but she was nowhere in sight. 

Yet there were three plates, and everything seemed cold. 
I could hear talking in another room, and thought perhaps 
she had company. I sat down and ate my supper. The 
next morning she was still absent. At noon we took lunch 
together; and when I was called at night to supper, the 
girl had nothing on the table but dishes and bread and but- 
ter. I sat down and waited full ten minutes before she 
offered to give me anything, and then she brought out a 
dish of soup scarcely warm ; and some potatoes to match 
were set down before me. It was then that I disc(n-ered 



40 Ten Years in Nevada. 

the family were taking their meals in the dining-room, and 
sending their cold victuals out to us when they were 
through with each course. Cold food was not what I 
bargained for, neither was I accustomed to eat at the 
second table. I asked the girl if she could give me a dish 
of milk for Charley. She gave it to me. 

I broke some bread in it, and he ate it. I did not eat any- 
thing ; but when Charley had done eating his milk, I went 
out to see if Mrs. Beck had found a house. She was just 
eating. Said she would soon be ready. 

" Won't you have a cup of tea," said she. I told her I 
would, for I had not been to supper yet, and ielt too faint 
to go any farther without eating something. 

She had a nice, tempting plate of soup, of which, when 
hot, I am very fond. I ate a very hearty supper, and then 
leaving Charley with her little girl, we went and called on 
Mr. Moer, the owner of the house. He could not let 
me know till next day. This was the third time we had 
called before we saw him. 

I took Charley and went to our room. James came up 
and spent the evening with us. The next day I went to 
work, after eating a cold lunch of crackers and cheese, and 
giving the same to my boy from our basket, as we had 
run out of everything else. When the girl calleil us to 
breakfast, I told her I had been to breakfast. At lunch time 
Mrs. Hungerford said lunch \yas ready. I told her I had 
brought my lunch with me. 

She said : " The girl told me you did not eat supper nor 
breakfast. What is the trouble ? "• 

I told her I had rather board myself, as I wished to bring 
mv child up properly, and I did not think I could by eat- 
ing at the second table in the kitchen. 

She saw my feelings were wounded, and said she did 
not blame me, but Mr. Mackey would never eat with hired 
help. Well, I have no desire to eat with him ; but I have 



Life 0)1 the Pacific Coast. 41 

never ate at the second table, and cannot commence now. 
" Well, I am not to blame, you know, but he is very par- 
ticular, and if you had rather board yourself, I will pay 
you in pi-ovisions, if that will do." I told her it would suit 
quite as well. " You shall not lose anything by it," said 
she; "you can have anything you want." (1 suppose Mr. 
Mackey was more particular now than when he was a com- 
mon miner, working for his $4 a day and packing his diimcr- 
b'lickct.) She let me have some fiour, oatmeal, sugar, and 
tea, and other groceries, to the amount of $2, and gave me 
$1 in money per da}-, and told me I could get more when- 
ever I wanted it, and said I could have a quart of new milk 
each day. 

I went home that night. Saw Mr. Moer, and rented his 
rooms for $10 a month. I went across the street, bought a 
second-hand stove, a white pine table, and a bedstead of 
the same material, and both of them were minus of paint, 
and both home-made ; three old chairs, a straw mattress, 
and pillows ; two sheets and cases, and a second-hand 
blanket. The whole of them cost S-5- 

I bought them of a Jew by the name of Greene, and he 
put up the stove for me. I had sent Charle}' to watch for 
James when he came from his work. He soon came, and I 
borrowed $25 of him. He had brought $25 from home, 
sewed up in his coat, he said, "for a wet day." My bed 
was soon made up, and the room set in order, and I sent 
James and Charley to get the provisions of Mrs. Hungerford. 

Mr. Greene promised to take the things back at any time 
within two months, for 75 cents on a dollar. 

The provisions came. In due time I had supper ready, 
and we three sat down to eat. After supper James brought 
over our baggage from Mrs. McKenney's, and I paid her 
for the room. 

I now went over to Mrs. Beck's and told her I had got 
moved. 



42 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" Well, I am going over with you to see how you look," 
she said ; and she handed me a basket, and asked me to 
carry it as far as my house, as she had a bundle to carry, 
When we got there she looked around the room, and said : 
" Where did you get your things ? " 

I told her across the way, of a Jew. 

" What did you pay for them ? " 

I told her, and she said : " I am sorry, for I intended to 
have you get them of Mr, Beck, and pay him in sewing. 
But you can get groceries of him very cheap, and he will 
give you work to do whenever you get ready to board 
yourself. ■ I told her I had already commenced, and that I 
had got some provisions. "Did you buy^them of him, 
too? " I told her where I had got them, and why. 

She said : " Well, you will feel more like living now." 

Then she opened her basket. 

" Well, here is a few things to keep house with ; some 
tea, sugar, candles, salt, pepper, a roll of butter, and several 
other articles ; and here is a pair of sheets and cases for a 
change, and a table-cloth," said she, as she opened the 
bundle, " and here is some rags for dish-cloths, or anything 
you want them for; they are nice and clean." 

I was very much surprised, and was about to speak, when 
she stopped me with : " There, don't say a word ; I am 
not going to give them to you ; I have got some sewing 
for you as soon as I get it ready, and I know you will want 
all your money to pay rent with." 

It was some days before she brought the work, and when 
it was finished and taken home she slipped the pay in my 
pocket, saying : " Those few things are not enough to 
pay for that work." 

She remembered that $5, and took this way to overcome 
my scruples. 

Her way of doing charity was so delicate that one couid 
never take offense. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 43 

Since she had promised me work, the little stock of })ro- 
visions came very acceptable. 

The next evening she came and took me to her husband's- 
store. He promised me work ; but for fear he might for- 
get, she told me to get some groceries. 

I bought a few things, and went home. She said : " I 
must run home now. Come over whenever you get lone- 
some. Good-night! " and away she went. 

I now boarded James to save his dollar. He could now 
lay by $6 every day. He still slept in the shop. 

Before we left his house in Illinois he told me that, unless 
he passed for my brother, we would be sure to be talked 
about, and we had agreed to this. So Charley always 
called him Uncle James ; and I believe they thought as 
much of each other as if they were relatives. 

I was now fairly settled, and each night the cook would 
give me a pail of fresh milk. I took the milk, and consid- 
ered it a part of the pay for my work. I got along nicely 
for several days, and then my little boy commenced to act 
as if he was sick ; would not eat his lunch, nor did he seem 
inclined to play. I asked him if he was sick. He said : 
"No; but I feel bad all over." I saw his face looked 
flushed. I laid him on the sofa in the same room I was at work. 

This was about two o'clock, and by five o'clock I was 
obliged to quit work and take hrm home. That night he 
grew worse, and by morning he was out of his head with 
scarlet fever. 

It was raging at the time in the city. I sent James to 
tell Mrs. Hungerford that I could not come to help her, for 
Charley was very sick. 

She told him to come and get the milk just the same, for 
I would need it while he was sick. And sometimes she 
sent me a hot loaf of bread, and a loaf cake for Ciiarley. 

She was very kind all through his sickness. Charley con- 
tinued to grow worse every day, for fourteen days, in spite 



44 Ten Years in Nevada. 

of all I could do. He had been sick only two days when 
Mrs. Beck called to see me. She was surprised to see him 
so sick, and asked what doctor I employed. 

I told her I was doctoring him myself. " You must have 
a doctor for him, or he will die," said she. I told her I 
could not think of trusting his life in another person's 
hands. 

She came twice every day, always bringing me some- 
thing nice to eat, so I need not have to cook, for she saw 
that I had my hands full. 

Sometimes hot soup ; sometimes baked meats and vege- 
tables, or a few hot biscuits — always something. 

I need not tell the reader how thankful J was for those 
little acts of kindness, for he was sick three long weeks, 
and I had no one to do anything but myself, or sit up with 
him a single night. 

I would not allow James to sit up after working all day ; 
but he brought his blankets, and laid on the floor to be near 
if wanted. 

Fourteen days had nearly passed. He seemed hovering 
between life and death. Mrs. Beck again urged me to get 
a doctor; said the children were dying all over the city. 

That is just why I do not get one ; I am afraid they could 
not cure him. I was a good nurse, and I thought if any- 
one could save him, I could, for I knew his constitution bet- 
ter than anyone else. 

I stood over him watching every breath. James came in, 
and brought him the largest stem of grapes I ever saw ; 
thev were the white musk. 

Charley's mouth seemed so dry and parched that I moist- 
ened his tongue by squeezing the juice out of several of 
the grapes in his mouth. In a few moments his tongue be- 
came softened so he could speak. He said : " Give me 
5ome more." I squeezed more on his tongue, then gave 
him several to eat. In a few moments he wanted more. I 



f 



Life oil the Pacific Coast. 45. 

fed him a dozen, and then he seemed satisfied, laid per- 
fectly still, and dropped to sleep. In about ten minutes the 
sweat broke in large drops all over his face. 

James was standing at the window looking out, when I 
cried out: Oh ! James, he is saved ; the fever is broke. 

Me came and looked at him, felt his face, and said : 
" Thank God ! " I know now that with good nursing he 
will live, but this would be the most trying night of all. 

James said : " He is better now ; I will watch him, and 
you lie down and get some rest." 

I told him it was the most particular night of all, and I 
did not dare to leave him for a moment ; told him to go to 
bed; if I needed him I would call him. He laid down to 
rest, and I sat down by Charley. About twelve o'clock he 
called tor a drink. I got a cup of water to give him. As 
I was about to give it to him I fainted, and fell across the 
bed. The water ran down on the blankets to my face and 
brought me to. I got up and procured another cup of 
water, but as I reached the bed I fainted again. 

This time I did not revive as soon as the first time, 
although my face laid in a pool of water. When I came to, 
I did not dare to try again, so I threw the cup on the floor 
near James. 

The smashing of" the dish awoke him. He brought some 
water, and gave me a drink. As soon as I could speak I 
told him to give Charley a drink ; that I had tried twice, 
and had fainted both times. 

He said : " Then you just lie down and go to sleep. I 
will watch till daylight." 

Tired nature could do no more. I was forced to accept 
his kind offer. I showed him what kind of medicine to 
give Charley, and in a lew moments I was lost in uncon- 
sciousness. 1 had cooked but a few regular meals in the 
fourteen days, and siiould have given out much sooner had 
it not been for the kindness of Mrs. Beck in bringing me so 



.46 Ten Years in Nevada. 

many warm meals, for my bed was in the same room with 
the stove, and it was impossible to have a fire only at nights 
and mornings. My room was a dark room, only lighted 
from the hall, and I used it for a store-room. 

In the morning I awoke quite refreshed. James had 
eaten his breakfast, and made me a nice cup of tea and 
some toast, and was giving Charley some hot broth. He 
said Charley had not awaked but twice, and then only 
long enough to take his medicine, and then dropped off to 
sleep again. 

He seemed a great deal better. In a few days he sat up. 
He now gained very rapidly, as he had the best of care. 
He was soon able to go about the room, or sit by the win- 
dow and watch the children play in the garden. There was 
a select school in the same yard with me. The children 
used to call him " big e3'es " to tease him. He was very 
poor, and his eyes looked very large. This would annoy 
him, and he would crawl to the water-pail and get the dip- 
per full of water, and set it by him, and when they came 
again, he would throw it all over them. 

I had to leave him to go out to attend to some business 
•one day, and when I came in, the floor was all wet, and he 
was undressed and in bed. 

I asked him what it meant He said those plagued girls 
kept coming and saying "what you doing 'big eyes,' peel- 
ing yourself? And I tried to throw water over them, but 
could not hold it, as my hand shook so, and I got all wet. 
I was afraid I would get cold, so I just sHpped off my 
clothes, hung them up to dry, and got in bed, for I did not 
want to get sick again." 

He had had so much fever that the outside or cuticle 
skin entirely peeled off his whole body. He was as scaly as 
a fish. He thought he would be a new boy when he got well, 

I went out and told the girls they must not plague him, 
for he had been very sick. When he got well he might 



Life on the Paeific Coast. 47 

come out and play with them. They did not disturb him 
after this. As soon as he was able to stay alone, James and 
I went out every day till we had hunted up the locations 
of all the claims my brother Charles had in Storey and 
Lyons counties ; and it was well that we did, for two months 
later James had to go home to his family. 



CHAPTER III. 

My Visit to Mr. Waters — Visit to Dayton — Visit to California — Incidents of 

the Journey. 

tFTER we had found out where the claims were all 
situated that my brother's papers called for, I deter- 
mined to visit Mr. Waters, and see what I could discover, 
but I did not want him to recognize me ; so I disguised 
myself in a red calico dress, a striped shawl, and pink sun- 
bonnet. I had two false teeth ; these I took out to change 
my voice as much as possible to an oldish woman's ; combed 
my hair plain back. I was so completely disguised that 
James did not know me, for I had added a little artificial 
color to my face, as I am naturally pale. 

I started out. I had no trouble in finding the house, or 
of recognizing Mr. or Mrs. Waters, as I had a perfect pho- 
tograph of both in a dream several nights before I left the 
East. 

I rapped at the door. She bade me enter ; I did so, and 
found her standing at a table basting work for the machine. 
She looked very natural to me, as 1 had seen her in my 
dream. She was tall, slim, of light complexion, gray blue 
eyes, spare face. 

Her hair, turning grey, had once been brown. She in- 
vited me to take a seat. I did so, and asked her if she 
wished for a girl. She said : " I do my own work." I 
asked her if she wanted any assistance in her sewing. She 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 49 

said: "No ; I take in all the sewing I can get." But being 
determined to stay, if possible, 1 asked her if she did not 
want her fall house-cleaning done. " No," she said, " 1 do 
it myself." I then told her I was quite anxious to get work, 
for I was a lone woman, and had two boys to suj^port. 

You see I counted James and Charley both as my boys, 
just to make my case as pitiable as possible. 

She asked me where I lived. 

1 told her in Virginia City. " Where is your husband ? " 
I have none, said 1. 

" Oh ! I see he died at White Pine some time aeo." 

Now^ it happened that some party by the name of Smith 
had died at White Pine a few months before, and that was 
the name I had by chance chosen, and she naturally enough 
took me for the widow. 

My first thought was to say No, but the second thought 
warned me to be silent, for White Pine was a new mining 
town where people were dying off every day, and I saw 
her mistake would assist me, so I did not undeceive her. 
She said : " It is a very common thing to see White Pine 
widows around begging." I said Yes, but came near laugh- 
ing outright, for the idea of a White Pine widow was too 
comical for anything. But I mastered my inclination to 
laugh, and said : Can you keep me over night ; for if I can- 
not get work in Gold Hill to-night, 1 mav trv Silver City 
in the morning. She said she could not, as she had but one 
bed-room down stairs. I told her I could sleep up stairs, or 
anvwhere. She said : '' I have no room up there." But I 
knew there were three rooms in her garret, and beds in 
two of them, or my dream was false to me. 

My object in going there was to have a chance to study 
the character of the man who had taken possession of my 
brother's papers, and who had kept them in his desk, as he 
said, for over four years, and had never had interest enough 
to look them over to see if they were of any value, until 



50 Ten Years in Nevada. 

we sent lor them. Then he looked at them, you will see by 
one of his letters, for the first time. 

Although in one of his letters he said Charle}" owed him 
$40 or perhaps more, and in another $80. How little he 
must have cared for the loss of $80 or even $40 not to 
have examined those papers to see if they were not worth 
enough to get his money back, and they lying in his desk 
all those years ! I think he will have to tell this story to 
some one else, for I cannot swallow it, if I may be allowed 
the expression. 

I now wished to talk with her till her husband came in, 
and while we were talking he came (the other photograph 
of my dream some two months before). He looked first at 
me, then at his wife, and she said : " It is Mrs. Brown, a 
White Pine widow ; she has two little boys to support, and 
is out of work." He merely gave a sort of grunt, but made 
no reply. 

I asked several questions to prolong the time, in the hope 
he would enter into conversation, but he did not speak, and 
when I could find no further excuse, I arose to go. Just 
then she went up to her husband and said something low 
to him. I thought she was going to ask him to let me stay, 
but they whispered so loud that I heard something like, 
" I will give it back." 

I knew then it was money she was asking for, and I 
opened the door and said, good-day ! and hurried away as 
fast as I could. She said, " Stop ! " I pretended not to 
hear her, and went on. 

She followed me down to the road where I stopped till 
she came up, after she called twice for me to wait. 

She then offered me " two bits," saying : " Here is 
enough to get you a loaf of bread to-night as you go 
home." 

I told her I preferred to work for what I had. I am not 
around begging ; I am looking for Avork. 



Life on the Pcxcific Coast. 51 

" Pshaw ! " said she, " don't be too proud to take money 
when it is given to you, and she held out the 25 cents again. 
I thanked her, but told her I would not take it; I would 
rather have my ozvn, and turned away. I was satisfied witii 
my adventure, for everything about the house was exactly 
as I had dreamed it was, even to the steps that led down to 
the road. It was on account of this dream that I wished to 
visit them first in disguise. I now went immediately home. 
I told James the conversation I had with Mrs. Waters. 

He said he thought he was rather a tall boy for whom I 
should go around begging. He enjoyed the joke ; said I 
ought to have taken m}- children with me, and then I would 
have received more sympathy. 

I had searched the records in Virginia City, and found 
nothing recorded there. 

I told James I would go down to Dayton and see what I 
could find there on the records. In the morning I took the 
stage for Dayton. 

At the recorder's office I found a very gentlemanly per- 
son who showed me the books, and after looking over three 
or four, we found a mill site of eleven acres, and two deeds. 
A third deed, which I had in my possession, was not re- 
corded. This I gave to him to have him record, but he 
said I would have to send it to Carson City, and get one of 
the witnesses to acknowledge it before a notary public. 

Just at this moment the surveyor-general from Carson 
City came in. 

Mr. Crocket said : " Perhaps Captain Day will take it 
over and see to it, and send it back." 

He said he Avould, and as he looked at the deed he saw 
my brother's name. He said : " I know that man well. I 
surveyed some land up at American Ravine for him." 

I asked him what kind of a man he was. He said he was 
very gentlemanly, and I thought he was some rich person 
by his dress. 



52 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I asked how he was dressed. 

He said : " In a suit of black, and he looked very nice. 
He came to get me to go and survey the ground. I agreed 
to meet him at his cabin, and did so 

" When I got there I found him dressed in a common 
suit of mining clothes, and could not help thinking to my- 
self that young man has a good deal of pride ; how he 
looks when he is out from home, for he hardly looked like 
the same person." 

Mr. Crocket, the recorder, heard our conversation. I 
told him Mr. Waters had written that he was poor, and he 
had to lend him money to get a suit to appear in the pro- 
cession at the time President Lincoln died. 

He said : " I do not believe it, not a word of it ; he was 
too particular about his looks to let his clothes run out till 
he had not a decent suit." 

The Captain said he would get the deed acknowledged 
and send it back to me, and he would also go up to Silver 
City and show me the boundary lines the next week, which 
he did. 

After I had got through with my business, Mr. Crocket 
asked me if I knew of any person in Virginia City he could 
get to help take care of his child. It had the scarlet fever, 
and he and his wife were both worn out taking care of it. 

I told him I would come, if he wished, for my child had 
just recovered from it, and I thought to bring him into the 
country would benefit him ; and if they had no objections 
to the child, I would come. He said they would have 
none, and wanted to know if I would come the next da}". I 
told him I would. 

I went back to Virginia City that afternoon. I went to 
Mr. Greene and told him I was ready for him to take back 
the things. I had used them seven weeks. He said : " I 
do not want them." I reminded him of his promise to take 
them back for 75 cents on a dollar. 




A -i 



Life on the Pacific Coast, 53 

" What do I care for my word. Get out, or I will pitch 
you out ! " said he. He was a Jew. I have had considerable 
dealings since with Jews, and never found one who did 
care for his word where a barg-ain was concerned. But I 
have seen many I thought were nice people, but perhaps it 
I had had deahngs with them, they would have been like 
the rest. 

The man Greene, who did not care for his word, was 
afterwards obliged to run away for some misdemeanor, but 
was overhauled at Reno and brought back, and had to 
settle, whatever it was, and then he left for the good of the 
city. 

I then went to see Mr. Beck. He came and looked at 
the things; said he could not afford to give but $11 for 
them ; said the only things worth moving were the stove 
and dishes. I told him to take them along. 

He gave me the money, and said : " Shall 1 take them 
to-day or to-morrow ? " 

I told him I was not going till next day, and would like 
to use them that night. 

When James came to supper that night I told him I was 
going to Dayton to nurse a sick child, and he would have 
to board out till I came back. 

He said it did not make any difference, for he was going 
on the Divide to work, and would have to board there. 

" When will Greene take the things? " he asked. I told 
him he would not take them, and told him what he had said. 

" I will go over and give him a thrashing," said he. "You 
have been swindled out of enough I " I told him I had 
sold the things to Mr. Beck, so he had better let it drop. 
" Well, he deserves to have a good thrashing for his impu- 
dence to you, but I suppose you are right, I will only get 
myself in trouble." 

The next morning I bade my friend Mrs. Beck good- 
bye, and started with Charley for Dayton. On arriving at 



54 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Mrs. Crocket's I found the child had grown worse through 
the night. I took immediate charge of it. I had taken care 
of it about two weeks when, becoming tired of the close 
confinement, I offered to change off with her and do house- 
work part of the time. 

She was perfectly willing, and it was better for me than 
to be so confined. 

The child was a handsome, interesting little girl, just 
learning to walk alone, and I grew to love it very much. 

I also liked Mr. and Mrs. Crocket. They had a very 
pleasant home, surrounded by flowers, trees, and a nice 
garden and yard. 

I had been in Dayton but three weeks when my boy met 
with a serious accident. 

I had sent him to the Chinaman's to tell him to bring the 
clothes home (for she gave her washing out), and in coming 
back he had met a little girl playing with a hay-cutter, and 
stopped to look at it. She told him he might cut with it. 
He took hold of it, and soon cut his forefinger entirely off 
above the first joint, and again just above the second joint. 
The last piece hung by a mere thread of the skin. I was 
sitting with the baby in my lap, when he came and put his 
head in the door, and said : " Now, mamma, don't faint, 
for I have cut my finger." 

I looked up, and saw his face was like marble, and a large 
stream of blood flowing from his side, where he was hold- 
ing his hand with the other. 

I said, oh ! my child, you are hurt. 

But he said : " Don't be frightened ; I have only cut my 
finger off ; it does not hurt me any ; it is only a little num." 

I never knew what I did with the baby, but the next mo- 
ment I had him in my arms. He was holding the second 
piece on with his other hand. I wrapped my handkerchief 
around it, sat him in a chair, and got the little girl to go 
with me and show me where the machine was. There I 



Life on tJu: Pacific Coast. 55 

found the end of his finger in the chaff, and brought it back. 
I then dressed his finger in salve, after putting the end on it. 

By this time several of the neighbors had heard of tiie 
accident, and called in. They said I ought to send for a 
doctor; said wounds mortified so easy there; it was differ- 
ent from tiie East. 

And for once I was persuaded, against my will, into 
getting a doctor. 

He came, and said he must have his finger taken off ; it 
would mortify sure unless taken off. 

I told him I had heard of their growing on when entirely 
severed. He said : " Not in this country ; it is impossible." 

He took off the first piece, and laid it on the window, 
and was going to take off the other piece ; it just hung by 
a thread. I told him I would not have it taken off ; I knew 
there was no need of it. 

He said : " Your boy will lose his finger, and perhaps his 
hand." I said 1 will take the chances. He replied : " You 
will see." He then did it up with splints, put on some lini- 
ment, and went home, telling me to leave it for three days, 
and then send him to his office, and he would dress it 
again. " But the chances are I shall have to cut off his 
hand," said he. 

Not if I keep my senses, said I. 

I left his hand as he directed till the second day. About 
four o'clock in the morning he seemed in so much pain I 
looked at it, and discovered proud flesh working in it. I 
pulverized some burnt alum, and sprinkled it on the part 
affected, which ate off the proud flesh. I then put on the 
salve I had first put on. Again I splintered it up, and laid 
him back in bed. 

The end of his finger I had preserved in brandy to pre- 
vent his finger ever bothering him after it had healed up. 

I dressed his finger three times every day, and it was 
nearly healed in six weeks. 



56 Ten Years in Nevada. 

If he had not had presence of mind to reverse the ma- 
chine, he probably would have cut off his hand. 

I think if I had not sent for a doctor, it would have all 
grown on and been as well as ever. As it was, the second 
piece grew on all right, and by a scale of the quick having 
been left on it, a new nail formed ; but as the end was not 
there to support it, it turned over the end, yet does not dis- 
figure his hand in the least ; but he has to favor it. This 
caused him to hold his hand in rather an awkward position 
when he first went on the stage, but he soon overcame it. 

Before 1 left Dayton I called on the doctor, and paid him 
$10. That was my first experience with doctors. I sup- 
pose if he had had his own way he would have taken off 
the hand (just for practice, you know), then he would have 
charged me $100. 

I had been in Dayton but six weeks when James came 
down and showed me a dispatch from his wife. She and 
the child both had the fever. I got what money was com- 
ing to me and gave it to him, and told him to go home, by 
all means, to his family. He did not want to take the 
money ; said he had plenty to go home with. I told him 
he would need it if his family was sick; besides, I promised 
to pay his fare both ways. " Well," said he, " you have 
already paid it twice." 

I finally persuaded him to take it. But he made me 
promise if 1 got out of money I would send to his brother 
Elie for some, who was now in Sacramento. 

He now bade me good-bye, and, with a " God bless you ! " 
hastened away, with tears in his eyes. 

After he reached home several letters passed between us, 
and then for three years I did not hear from him. I wrote. 
His wife answered it, informing me that her husband was 
dead ; he had died two years before. 

I was very sorry to hear of poor James' death, for he 
seemed like a brother to me. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 57 

The little girl now recovered so as to be able to take her 
out, when, by some carelessness, she took a new cold, had a 
relapse, and sank so rapidly that one night we all thought 
her dead. Charley became very much excited, and crept 
up in my lap, saying : " Mamma, take me away, or I shall 
die, too ! " It was the second time he had ever seen a dead 
person. The first time he had fainted, so I thought I had 
better put him to bed. I did so, and lay down by the side 
of him till he went to sleep. 

When I came out they wanted me to try and get the 
child from the mother, who could not be persuaded to give 
up her darling ; and as I bent over her to speak, I saw the 
pulse of the neck beating regularly. 

I told them the child was not dead, but had only fainted. 
The fond mother raised her eyes in hope, but some of 
the women said I was mistaken ; it was dead. It was noth- 
ing for a pulse to beat in the neck for half an hour after the 
person was dead. I told them it was a queer way to die. 
Mrs. Saunders, a lady of good sense, came and looked at 
tiie child, and agreed with me. The mother now gave it 
up to us. We put it in warm blankets, and after a while it 
opened its eyes. We gave it some warm milk and water, 
and fed it with a swab till it ate several spoonfuls of the 
milk. Then we allowed it to rest, giving no medicine, but 
continued the milk and water at intervals till morning. 

The next day the child was quite lively, and seemed to 
take notice of everything shown it. It had a sinking turn 
as the disease broke up, and was too weak to show signs of 
life, and thus, for a time, we had all been deceived. 

The child now recovered very rapidly, and hope returned 
to its grief-stricken parents. 

While I was in Dayton there was a large ball given by 
the citizens, and I was told by parties present that there 
was one set on the floor dancing, and every man in the set 
had had every woman in it for his wife, and every woman 



58 Ten Years in Nevada. 

had had every man, and each one was then dancing with 
his own wife. This allowed four marriages and three di- 
vorces to each, and now they were all as friendly as though 
no hard feelings had ever existed between them. 

It is a great town for divorces. 

It was now about the hrst of December; the child had 
got entirely well, and I was not needed any longer. 

As I wanted to go over to California to look alter some 
claims at Dutch Flats, I was told I had better go early, as 
the winter was a bad time to go over the mountains. Just 
as I was about to pack up, Mrs. Crocket said she wished I 
would stay a few days longer, as there was to be a great 
barbecue — a large beef roasted whole. She said the men 
had hired a French cook, and were to have a^big dinner in 
an open field, and also a speech, and the ladies were to give 
a dance and supper at night, and she was to be chairman of 
the evening's entertainment ; and as the men expected to 
have the barbecue go off all right, she was quite anxious 
the supper should. And it seemed some of the men thought 
it would be a failure because they had no man to help 
them.- Mrs. Crocket told them they would see, which they 
did ; for the barbecue was a total failure. The beef was so 
long in cooking that it was tainted, and everything else was 
spoiled, so I heard one of the committee of arrangements 
say; but the evening's entertainment was a grand success, 
and those that were so afraid it would be a failure, and 
■were so confident of their own success, now hung their 
heads like a whipped politician. 

As soon as this spree was over I packed my trunk and 
went up to Silver City. There I found I had not money 
enough to take us both, having given James six weeks' 
wages. I only got $30 a month besides our board. As I 
did not intend to be gone but two weeks, I asked the lady 
who kept the boarding-house if she would board Charley 
till I came back. She was very willing to do so, for she 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 59 

said she had become very much attached to him, and would 
like to have me leave him till I came back. I told lier I 
would give her a day's work at sewing when I came back 
for every three days' board for the child. She was satisfied 
with the bargain. Charley was satisfied to stay. I never 
thought she would be unkind to him when she made so 
much of him. I now kiss-d him good-bye, and told him to 
be a good boy till I came back. 

I started for Virginia City. When I got there the stage 
had already gone, but Mr. Hatch's fast freight was about 
to start, and he said I could go in it if I wished to. He also 
gave me a letter of introduction to his father-in-law. I 
gladly accepted his offer, for the snow was falling fast, and 
I was afraid of a blockade. 

We had a cold, raw journe}-, for it snowed all day. We 
reached Reno about two o'clock in the afternoon. I bousfht 
a ticket for Dutch Flat, but found I could not go on till 
nine o'clock at night. 

I had eaten but one meal that day, for 1 could not afford 
it. I now got supper, for which I paid $[, and then, as it 
had cleared off, I went out to see the town. 

Reno is a smart little town, \\\\\\ a railroad passing 
through the center, with a large depot, and only one 
hotel at this time. The buildings are mostly one and 
two-story houses. Each building had a nice little yard 
and garden, for Reno is well watered by the Truckee 
River; therefore every person can raise his own garden. 
It is a very clean and, I believe, healthy town, with about 
five thousand inhabitants. I believe the nearest mine is 
two miles off. There is also a coal mine somewhere near 
this town. The Hot Springs are about two miles off, where 
a large hotel and cure are erected. Here is where you can 
get your steam-baths every day in the week, which seems 
to cure the rheumatism like magic. You can see the steam 
from the springs full two miles off. 



6o Ten Years in Nevada. 

But nine o'clock has come, and so has the cars, and off I 
start for Calilornia. We reach Auburn station about six 
o'clock in the morning. There is only the depot, and a ho- 
tel kept by a Mrs. Black. No other buildings are in sight. 
Here I took a 'bus tor Auburn Village, some two miles up. 
I went direct to the recorder's ofihce. They told me, after 
looking through their books, that they could not find what 
I wanted, and it must be recorded at Ladd's Valley. 

I asked how I could get there. They told me I could go 
in the three o'clock stage from Black's Hotel. I did not 
stop to see much of Auburn, but decided to walk back to 
the hotel, as I had learned the road and had plenty of time. 

On one side of the road lay a piece of partly-cleared tim- 
ber land. There were some fine old trees ^ill remaining. 
They looked as if they might have stood for centuries, were 
I to judge them from their height and bigness. The ground 
had beea well under-brushed, and the grass was weighted 
with handsome wild fiowers, and everything as fresh and 
green as if it were summer. The day was warm and pleas- 
ant, the air soft and balmy, and not one cloud marred the 
face of the azure sky. 

On the other side of the road were fine residences, sur- 
rounded by fine orchards and beautifu. yards and gardens. 
1 had a pleasant walk. On reaching the bote. I called for 
dinner, and then laid down to rest, after leaving word to be 
called in time for the stage. At three o cock I started 
again for Ladd's Valley in a stage drawn by eight spans of 
horses. 

Our road lay for several miles through a level country 
covered with second-growth timber and mancineta bushes. 
They grow from five to eight feet high, and are covered 
with red berries, and resemble the red elder. We now strike 
a rise of ground, and soon find ourselves winding around the 
side of the Sierra Mountains. Soon we are three hundred 
leet above the river which wound around its base. The 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 6i 

road was very narrow all the way, being impossible tor 
teams to pass. I asked the driver how he managed wlieu 
he met a team. 

He said : " We all have bells on our horses, and we hear 
each other, and we wait in the wide places that are made 
on purpose for teams to pass each other." 

The road was so winding that the two forward teams 
were out of sight most of the time. We came to a very 
narrow place, and he pointed down to the river to the re- 
mains of a wagon which was shattered to pieces. He said 
it had been thrown off two weeks before, one woman being 
killed, another had her arm broken, and one man both legs 
broken, while another man lodged in the top of a tree, and 
had to climb down. One horse was killed, and the other, 
strange as it may appear, was saved. 

After hearing this I scarcely dared breathe for fear we 
might be hurled over this dizzy height and meet a similar 
fate before we left the mountain side for the more level 
country towards Ladd's Vallev. 

Here, on either side of us, were orchards and vine- 
yards loaded with fruit and grapes, and gardens of 
vegetables, and not a thing gathered yet, although it was 
December. 

It looked more like summer than winter, every yard being 
filled with lovely flowers, and the ground covered with 
green grass instead of snow. 

It was very easy now to see how the shepherds came to 
be tending their flocks when they were warned by the 
angel of the birth of our Saviour. 

I thought if the unbeliever could only gaze upon this 
paradise in all its present beauty, they would no longer 
doubt the 25th day of December as being the day our 
Saviour was born. 

Yes, while the merry sleigh-bells were ringing, and the^ 
sleighs gliding over the crisp snow of old New York, here 



•62 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I was, to all appearances, riding through flowery beds of 
midsummer. 

I suppose the climate of California is very much like the 
climate of Palestine; but, having never visited the Holy 
Land, can only judge from history. It is a very lovely 
climate, and very prolific. It does not seem possible that 
fruits and vegetables can grow as large and fair as here, or 
flowers more beautiful and fragrant than in California. I 
was surprised at the monstrosity of many kinds of fruits 
and vegetables, and, asking the cause, was told it was the 
cliro.ate. The trees are the largest I ever beheld, many 
measuring twenty-five feet in circumference — perhaps 
larger. The limbs of them would make good size timber 
in the East, and you would be in big luck to have them to 
work up. 

But to return to my journey. We. now entered Ladd's 
Valley, a beautiful place, through which a large stream 
flowed, and upon whose banks beautiful flowers grew, and 
the very air seemed loaded with their fragrance. It seemed 
to me as if I were only entering another room or field of 
the Californian paradise. 

There was no village here, only a few houses and a mill. 
It was now five o'clock in the afternoon. 

I went direct to the house of Judge Watson, for I had 
been informed by a Mr. Scott, in the East, before I left 
home, that he had spent two weeks with m.y brother at his 
house, and that my brother had informed him he had some 
very rich claims near Dutch Flat, and I thought to gain 
some knowledge of my brother's affairs of the judge. But 
here, too, I was doomed to disappointment, for he had been 
dead three years, and the place had passed into other hands, 
who could tell me nothing, save that the judge's housekeeper 
lived at Ruby Hill, about a mile off. 

I walked over to Ruby Hill to see the lady, but found 
she had gone to Gold Run. I determined to follow her, as 



Life on the Paeific Coast, 63 

I had been informed that she had taken care of my brother 
through a fever, and at a time when he thought he cc^uld 
not live. He had told her all his business, and where to 
write to his friends. 

But she had told him she would not write ; that he might 
get well, and deliver his own message. 

Mr. Scott had told me that Charley was waiting for water 
to work his claim, as the mines of California are mostly 
gravel, and are washed out by hydraulic pipes instead of 
digging them, as they do in Nevada. 

I could not go back to Auburn that night, so I staid at 
Ruby Hill. I ate my supper, and then laid down on a sofa 
in the sitting-room, as their beds were all full. The lady of 
the house promised to call me when the stage was ready. 
At twelve o'clock it drove to the door, and the driver hol- 
loed, "All aboard ! " 

I was ready in a few moments, and was helped into the 
stage, where sat eight other passengers. 

The moon had gone down and it was perfectly dark. 
The driver snapped his whip, and off started the horses at 
a break-neck speed. 

As long as the road was level I did not mind it; but we 
were all nearly frozen, there being a heavy frost. 

We drove about twenty miles, and then stopped to get an 
early breakfast, and change horses. While there I could 
look into the bar-room from the open door and see the 
driver drinking very often. This worried me, for I knew 
we had got the worst part of our journey yet to go. 

I noticed the passengers were all drinking pretty freely, 
in order to warm up, as they said ; and I had as many as 
five glasses of hot stuff, as they called it, offered to me, for 
they all said I would freeze if I did not take something hot. 

I told them the breakfast would keep me warm enough. 

Finally, they all drank around, and then took their places 
in the stage. 



64 Ten Years in Nevada. 

My heart began to fail me for fear we should be thrown 
off the mountain side into the river. 

I told my fear to my nearest neighbor, who told me to 
never fear, as the driver was all right. One of the passen- 
gers said : " Madam, you ought to have taken that hot 
whisky ; it would have kept you warm." 

I told him I had never drank anything in my life. 

" Oh ! I see. Cold water," said he. 

Yes, said I, cold water, 

" I guess you have not been on the coast long ? " 

About five months, I said. 

" I thought so ; for ladies here are not so particular about 
drinking when they are out in cold weather. You will get 
over that whim alter a little," said he, with a loud laugh. 

We now s-truck the mountain-pass, and we all remained 
perfectly quiet. I was thinking of the awful peril we were 
in — three hundred feet above a raging torrent that I had 
looked upon by daylight with fear, and now we were in 
midnight darkness with a half-intoxicated driver. 

The horses were not winding slowly around the mount- 
ain as they had done the day before, for the driver was 
acting in harmony with his feelings after drinking hot 
whisky. He said he was just letting them out a little. 
" Don't be afraid, lady, I will bring you safe to Aubui-n 
Station." 

I held my breath in terror, and mentally resolved never 
to go that road again with a drunken driver. I never want 
to pass through such another age of agony. 

What wonder, then, that my hair seemed to creep and 
crawl, and a prickly sensation pass through my head, or 
that, when I reached Auburn Station, and went to bathe 
my face and comb my hair, I discovered one side of my 
hair had turned quite gray ! 

When the driver saw me at the station waiting for the 
cars, he came up to me, with a smile, and said : " Well, 



Life oil the Pacific Coast. 65 

madam, I brought you safe over the mountain, just as I told 
3'ou I would." " You were afraid, because I warmed up 
with whisk}^ 1 would run you off the mountain. Ha ! ha ! " 
I told him I had been very much frightened. He laughed 
and said : " I was afraid, too, and took the whisky to keep 
up my courage, so I could come around all right." 

Well, said I, I would not take the journey again, under 
the same circumstances, for the price of your sixteen horses, 
and the stage thrown in. 

" Oh ! you have not got used to stage," said he, as he 
walked off with a ha ! ha ! 

The eastern train had now come, and I took my place in 
a car for Dutch Flat. We were not over an hour in reach- 
ing this place. 

I had two letters of introduction — one to Mr. Jameson, 
the father of Mrs. George Hatch, of Virginia Citv. 

I went to his of^ce, and he went with me to his house, 
and introduced me to his wife. I soon made arrangements 
to stay with her and sew for my board while in town. 
They seemed like very nice people, and treated me ver}- 
friendly. 

The other letter was to Mr. Bradley, the president of 
the Water Company at Dutch Flat. 

I called on him. He said : " I remember your brother 
well ; have bought gold dust ot him, but I do not know 
where his claims were. Perhaps they can tell you over to 
that store (pointing across the street). I often saw him 
there." 

I crossed over to the store, told the merchant my errand, 
and asked him to look over his books and see if he could 
find his name. He said : " No need of looking ; I remem- 
ber him well." He then went on and gave a perfect de- 
scription of my brother, and then asked me if that was the 
person I was inquiring for. 
I said Yes ; that is the person. 



66 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" Well, he always traded here, but never had his name 
booked ; he was a cash man ever}^ time." 

" He owned very rich mines near Iowa Hill, or Red 
Bluffs ; but I think they were sold about two years ago, or 
perhaps they were jumped." 

I asked him why he thought so. 

" Because," said he, " a man .came here two years ago 
this summer — I think some time in July or August. He 
came afoot, with his wife. They had a large satchel and a 
pair of blankets, which they carried between them. I think 
they had come some distance, and had camped out all the 
way." 

He now called to two men who were in the store, and 
asked them if they remembered the name of the man that 
was there making inquiries about Charles McNair's claims 
about two years ago. He said, " No; but I will tell you 
where you can find out. Go over to that hotel on the cor- 
ner ; they stopped there three or four days while he was 
looking for the claim. You will find their names recorded 
on their ledger, if they gave their right name." 

I went over. The landlord gave me the book to look at. 
I examined it, and found but one man and wife registered 
in the summer and fall of the year they had mentioned, and 
that was Mr. and Mrs. Brown, but did not say where 
from. 

I found all the records of this place had been burned sev- 
eral times, and found nothing among what few remained of 
any interest to me. 

My money was now so low that I had only enough to go 
back to Virginia City with, so I bought a ticket to that 
place to make sure of getting back. 

In going through the town making inquiries, I found a 
Mrs. Rease, whose daughter was about to be married, and 
wanted a seamstress to make her outfit. I hired to her for 
$1 a day, and worked one week, when her neighbor also 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 67 

wanted me a week, for the same price, to get her children 
ready for school. 

This gave me $12. I :onld now proceed with my inves- 
tigation. 

A gentleman advised me to go to Little York. It was 
ten miles off. In order to save my money for stage and car 
fare, I walked over there. I stopped at the recorder's house, 
and found he had but a few papers recorded, it being only 
a temporary office. They were very kind, and invited me 
to take dinner with them. After dinner he said I might 
find my brother's claims recorded at Red Dog, and he gave 
me a letter of introduction to his partner. He also told me 
he saw the same man, of whom the merchant at Dutch Flat 
had told me, inquiring about some claims belonging to 
Charles McNair, and said he probably sold them. 

He gave me a good description of him, and I have since 
spotted my man, and when I get all ready, will bring him 
to justice. 

From Little York I rode with a friend of the family about 
two miles. This was as far as they were going on my road. 
" It is only two miles farther to Red Dog," said he ; " and 
about three-quarters of a mile ahead you will hnd a log on 
which you will have to cross the river. The river is pretty 
high ; be careful you do not fall in." 

I thanked him, and walked on till I came to the river. 
The log had been swept around to the middle of the stream 
by the high water, and there was no way of crossing. So 
I sat down on the grass to rest, in hopes a team might come 
along and take me across. 

While I was waiting two Chinamen came to the river, 
looked up and down the bank till they found a place shal- 
low enough for them to wade. 

I watched them to see how high the water was by 
their rubber boots. The water came just above their 
knees. 



68 Ten Years in Nevada. 

After they got through all safe, I tucked up my skirts 
and waded in ; for I never turn back for obstacles. 

Where there is a will there is a way. 

The water was pretty swift, but I managed to reach the 
other side in safety, and sat down to wring the water from 
my stockings, when I heard a loud laugh from the other 
side, and looking up saw the Chinamen still standing on the 
bank watching me. They seemed to think I had performed 
some great feat in crossing the river, and I began to think 
so myself. As soon as I had wrung the water from my 
stockings, I started on. 

Now, reader, just imagine yourself wading a deep river 
in December, and then walking a mile and a ha]f with wet 
teet, and see how you would fancy it ! 

The water was not cold while in it ; and if I had waded 
through in my bare feet, I would not have minded it, but I 
was afraid of snakes, and so kept my shoes on. 

When 1 reached Mr. Cozen's house, my feet were nearly 
frozen, although it was very pleasant weather, everything 
being nice and green, and the wind blowing quite sharp all 
along the river. 

They had been out to attend a funeral, and had just come 
home. 

It took some time to start a fire for supper. I was now 
nearly chilled through. It was nearly dark, and much 
colder than in the day. I asked her if she would let me put 
my feet in the oven to dry. She said how came they wet? 
I told her I waded the river. She left the room and soon 
returned with a pair of new stockings, and gave them to me 
to put on. I then rinsed my stockings out, and hung them 
by the fire to dry. 

In the morning I proffered her the stockings, but she 
would not take them, and said I was welcome to them. 
" You may have to cross the river again," said she, " and 
then you will need them." 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 69 

They lived at You Bet, half a mile from Red Dog, I 
asked some one what the place derived its name from. 
They said that in early days, when women were scarce 
here, an old miner had a daughter, and the miners were all 
after her. The old gentleman warned them to keep away, 
but one, more bold than the rest, and who was desperately 
in love with the girl (who returned his affections), often met 
her ; and the fond father, to break up the lovers' meeting, 
shut his daughter up in her chamber. 

At night the young man came with a ladder to her win- 
dow, and went up to see her and get her to elope. The 
father, ever watchful, came out with a six-shooter and 
pointed it at his head, saying : " You had better get ! " 
All the reply the young man made was : " You bet ! " as 
he went flying out of sight. And from that day the place 
has been called You Bet. 

Nevada City was some four miles off. Mr. Cozens 
thought I would find something recorded there. I got 
a chance to ride half way, and walked the other portion, I . 
did not stop here only long enough to search the records. 
They told me the same old story — that tire had destroyed 
the records of early days. 

I now started back, having seen nothing of interest there, 
save the big blocks of granite which were being used 
for monuments and also for building. When finished and 
polished, it shone in the sunlight, at a short distance, like 
solid silver. 

1 got back to Mrs. Cozens before twelve o'clock, and 
took lunch with her. 

They were very kind to me, and requested me to write 
to them how I succeeded with my affairs. I bade them 
good-bye, and started back. 

I cross^l the river again, and then wrung out my 
stockings, and then went on to Little York. I got 
there just in time for dinner — or supper, as you Eastern 



"JO Ten Years in Nevada. 

people call it, having traveled eleven miles that day on 
foot. 

I was too tired to go further till I rested. I went out to 
see them wash the banks with hydraulic pipes. They 
showed me about a half-pint of gold specimens they had 
washed out of the sand, many of them as large as a hickory- 
nut. 

I staid all night, and after breakfast Mr. Cogens got me a 
chance to ride to Dutch Flat with a neighbor of his. While 
driving along we saw some very wide boards. 

I said they were the largest I had ever seen. " Oh, 
they do very well," said he. Very well, said I ; do you 
have any larger ? 

" Oh, yes, plenty," said he. 

They must be a show if they are any larger than those. 
He laughed, and said : " You never saw the big tree, 
then .? " 

I told him I had not. 

" You have heard its history ? " he asked. 
No ; I have heard nothing about it. 

" Well, said he, " we had a tree near Eureka so large 
that it took fifteen men a week to chop it down. After 
it was down they had to put up a steam saw-mill right 
by it to saw it up into blocks and timber. Nearly 
everybody has some of it. They sawed off the stump and 
built a hotel on it ; but before they raised the hotel, they 
had a moonlight dance on the stump." 

I said there could not many have danced at the same time. 
"Oh, yes, there were four sets," said he. "We had a 
grand time, you bet ! " 

He appeared perfectly serious. But of course I cannot 
vouch for the truth of his story. Although I have since 
heard a great deal about the big tree, a lady friend in 
Virginia City says they did surely have a dance on the 
stump of it, which she attended. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. yi 

Mrs. Jameson was taken sick, so I was obliged to get a 
new place, and while hunting one day for a place, a lady 
told me she thought Mrs. Burkhalter would like to get me. 
While we were talking a boy about seventeen years of age 
stepped up, and said : "Auntie, she need not get a place to 
sew; she can go up to our cabin and take possession. 
There is plenty of grub there — bread, meat, butter, sugar, 
potatoes, and everything ; just help yourself, while in town, 
to what you want. Bill and I will go up to mother's and stay." 

I thanked him, but said I thought I would rather be in a 
house with some one, as I would be afraid to stay alone. 

"Oh, no one will hurt you ; there is a good lock on the 
door." 

He insisted on my taking the cabin. 

His aunt finally told him it was because it did not look 
well that I did not accept his offer. 

*• Oh, hang the looks ! " said he, walking off. 

He was good-looking, and appeared like a vei'}' nice boy. 

T went to see Mrs. Burkhalter, and she hired me. It was 
at her house I was stopping when I went to Little York. 
She had a beautiful home, and three fine children. I think 
she was one of the sweetest dispositioned women 1 ever 
saw. I had a very pleasant time while there. I think we 
visited more than we worked. 

Her husband had a large store in Truckee, and onl}- came 
home to spend the Sabbath with his family. When I came 
back from Little York he was at home. I found him very 
pleasant and agreeable. 

While I was in Dutch Flat several very exciting instances 
occurred, some of which I will mention here. First, China- 
town was burned, and hardly a house left on the patch. 
What was left were a few that were very near some build- 
ings belonging to some white people. 

You could see the Chinamen the next day digging up 
their gold where they had it buried under their cabins, 



72 Ten Years in Nevada. 

one Chinaman having $5,000 in an old oyster-can, so I was 
told by one who saw him count it. 

A few days after this a miner's cabin was robbed of $300. 

One morning the whole town was thrown into a state of 
great excitement over the murder of a young man who was 
a great favorite in town. It was a very sad affair, and cast a 
gloom over the place for many days. Gambling and whisky 
happened to be the cause this time, and not a woman. His 
funeral took place at the house of his brother, who lived 
across the street from Mrs. Burkhalter. For his friends' 
sake I suppress his name. 

This excitement had not died Out before the son of a 
lady with whom I staid a few days was engaged to a girl, 
and her sister and brother-in-law broke up the match. 

He took it so to heart that he was perfectly beside him- 
self. 

His mother found him cleaning his pistol one morning, 
and asked him what he was doing. He told her he was 
going to shoot the girl's brother-in-law. 

I happened to go in there, and found her in great trouble, 
when she told me all about it. I was stopping with Mrs. 
Burkhalter at the time. His mother asked me to go out 
and talk with him. 

I went down to the gate where he stood watching, with 
revolver in hand, ready for his man whenever he should 
come that way. He had stood there all the forenoon ; it 
was now eleven o'clock. I went up to him, but he did not 
stir. I laid my hand on his arm, and called him by name. 
He looked around at me — and that look will haunt me 
while I live. It was enough to freeze the blood in your 
veins. His lips were parted, in order to show his teeth, 
and from each corner of his mouth, and also oozing from 
between his teeth, were drops of froth, and his eyes were 
blood-shot. 

I asked him if he loved his mother. 



Life on the Paeific Coast. 73 

It was some moments before he seemed to comprehend 
my question. I had to repeat it the second time. 
He said : " Yes, very dearly." 
Do you know you are going- to kill her? 
" No," said he, " I am not ; I am only going to kill that 
d — d villain who has stepped between me and happiness." 
Well, said I, if you persist in this wicked deed, you will 
surely be the death of her. You are her only support, her 
only son, and she loves you very much, and she could never 
live to see you hung. Besides, what would become of your 
little sister ? 

He handed me the pistol, saying, " Take it ; you have 
conquered. I will not shoot him while I have my senses." 
And he turned away and leaned upon the fence. 

1 saw I had touched a tender cord, and felt sure the best 
way to conquer the demon aroused in his breast was to 
leave him to reflect upon the train of thoughts 1 had awak- 
ened in him. I took the pistol to the house and gave it to 
his mother. 

After I went home I could see him all day long from mv 
window, where I sat sewing, standing there by the fence 
watching for the man, but a friend had warned the young 
man to keep away, and he did. There might have been 
trouble, for it was hard for him to conquer his feelings. 
But he finally came off victorious, and before I left the 
place he seemed reconciled to his fate. 

A miner was also found murdered in his cabin while I 
was there, but no clue could be found of the one who did 
the deed. 

I now bade good-bye to my friends, and went to Gold 
Run, which was four miles from Dutch Flat. 

Here I met a very nice family of the name of Craiger. 
They had three nice little girls, and a two-year-old boy. 
They were all pretty children, but Theresa was my favorite. 
The eldest was a very fair girl, with blue e^-es and dark red 



74 Ten Years in Nevada. 

hair, which hung in a profusion of curls about her neck. 
The youngest was a blonde, whose fair hair also hung in 
curls. Theresa was a brunette, with that beautiful black 
hair which turns to rich purple shades in the sunlight, It 
did not curl, but hung in waves half way to her waist. She 
was rather delicate, being troubled with St. Anthony's Fire. 
I discovered it was brought on by drinking strong coffee. 
She drank it just as strong as it could be made. 

I told her parents what ailed the child, and then I hired 
her not to drink any more coffee ; and five years after, 
when I again visited her parents, I found a beautiful girl of 
sixteen — the picture of health. 

I promised to give her one of my books if she did not 
drink any more coffee and when the work is completed 
she shall have her book. 

I liked the family very much, and have great reason to 
remember them, for it was at their house that I came very 
near dying, and only for their untiring efforts I would not 
now be writing the circumstance. I was at that time sew- 
ing for her. It was a very pleasant day, and we had no 
fire in the room where we were sewing. I did not feel 
cold, except my feet, which were on the iron foot of the 
machine. I did not eat any dinner that day, as I did not 
feel the need of any ; but it would have been better for me 
if I had, for when supper was ready we had corned-beef 
and cabbage, and it was too healthy food for one to eat 
who had not eaten any dinner, especially when I did not 
feel well. 

I had scarcely finished supper and crossed the room, when 
I fell to the floor in a dead faint. 

They sprinkled water in my face, and I soon revived, only 
to feel the most excruciating pain, which increased to such 
severity that my screams and groans were heard two streets 
away. Ginger-tea, pain-killer, pepper, Jamaica-ginger, soda, 
and mustard vv^ere all given, without relief. All thought I 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 75 

must die, as I was as cold as marble. I had my senses per- 
fectly, and could hear them talking, saying that I could not 
live long, and that I must soon go. 

I asked the lady to take a bowl and put all the different 
kinds of medicines that she had been giving me into it, stir 
them up, and fill up the bowl with warm water, and give it 
to me. 

She did so, and held it to my mouth, while some one 
raised my head. 

I drank it, and almost before they could take the bowl 
away, I threw it up. This relieved me immediately, the 
color came back to my face, and warmth to my body, and 
then said the dead was alive again. I was very weak after 
my two hours' suffering, and soon fell asleep, but did not 
wake till morning. 

Two days later I started for San Francisco, for I had 
been informed by a lady in Gold Run that Sarah Carey was 
living in that city. 

She was the lady who nursed my brother when he was 
sick at Ladd's Valley. 

Mr. Craiger was going down to the city for goods (he 
was a merchant in Gold Run), and I accompanied him ;. 
and it was well I did, for 1 do not know what I should have 
done alone, being surrounded on every side by hack- 
drivers, past whom we had to fight our way ; it was 
also eleven o'clock at night. 

We went to a hotel and left our baggage. We then 
Avent to the Alta printing office, and called for Mr. John 
McComb, but were told he had gone home. We then took 
the number of his house, and found it was too far up town 
to go that night. 

We now went into a restaurant and took supper, and then 
went back to the hotel. 

I called for a room, and bidding my friend good-night,, 
retired to rest. It was quite late the next morning when I 



76 Ten Years in Nevada. 

awoke. I called for breakfast, and after that for my bill, 
when, to my astonishment, I found it had been settled by 
my kind friend. 

I now took my satchel and started out to find the num- 
ber on my card. 

I had no difficulty in finding it, and was soon seated in 
Mrs. McComb's parlor, and she was soon busily engaged 
in reading my letter of introduction from my friend in Buf- 
falo, N. Y. She finished the letter, then invited me to stop 
with her while I staid in the city. I very glady accepted 
her invitation. 

I now went out to see if I could find Mrs. Sarah Carey. 

I soon learned that the doctor she had been keeping 
house for had moved. I now advertised for iTer, and got a 
letter from the doctor, saying he did not know where she 
was. 

I staid in the city eight days. The lady was very kind, 
and showed me over the principal part of the city — all the 
business part. 

Of all the lovely hot-house plants I ever saw, none were 
more beautiful than those I saw growing here in midwin- 
ter in flower gardens and private residences — verbenas, 
heliotropes, geraniums, and southern flowers of every de- 
scription. San Francisco was truly a Garden of Eden. 

The Birdrey is quite a sight. It is a place where thou- 
sands of birds of every description are kept for sale. They 
have, by far, the greatest number of canaries. It is a very 
large building, and is kept very cleanly and orderly. 

The city is built partly on a hillside, and partly on a flat 
piece of ground that extends to the bay. Some of the 
streets are nearly level, and on these they have street-cars, 
while other streets are very steep. 

The make of the ground is similar to that of Buffalo — 
perhaps a little more hilly. 

The soil is sand-loam, and completely alive with fleas. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. J J 

I should like to live here but only for those detestable 
little insects. 

They told me that they disturbed new-comers more than 
old inhabitants. 

I spent two weeks there one summer, some two years 
after, and when I returned home, the girl 1 left in charge of 
my house came to my door to hand me a pitcher of water, 
and seeing my neck and face so completely disfigured by 
l^ea-bites, mistook it for small-pox, and rushed down stairs 
crying : " You have the small-pox ! I will go and have 
you arrested and taken to the hospital ! Ouch, you have 
kilt us all entirely." 

I ran after her to the head of the stairs, and told her it 
was only flea-bites, and could hardly persuade her otherwise. 

After she had become convinced, she said : " Bad luck 
to the durty blackguards to be spiling yer good looks I 
They ought to be ashamed, so they ought ! " 

Imitating her brogue, I said : " Thrue for you, Eliza." 

Another reason I would not like to live here in any part 
of California is my fear of a mammoth spider, called the 
tarantula. It is very poisonous. It has sharp knives in its 
claws, which cut into the flesh like a lance as it winds its 
legs around any part of your body. It is about one inch 
across its back, and it is the largest of all the spider species. 
The people call its wound biting, but I do not see why 
they do. 

Their bite or stab is deadly poison, and the spot imme- 
diately turns green. 

If a person is given whisky till thoroughly intoxicated, 
they may live a few years, but they will never enjoy good 
health again. 

I never went to bed a night, while in the State, without 
first taking everything off the bed and shaking it, in order 
to sec if any were in the bed, for they often crawled in, and 
after a person had retired, bite them. 



78 Te7i Years in Nevada. 

The buildings of the city are mostly very nice, two and 
three-stories high, and the public, or building places, four 
and five stories, and on some streets they are all built on 
the same pattern for two and three blocks, and then another 
style is found for two or three more blocks ; so where they 
join each other they resemble one building of solid brick 
or stone of massive size. 

The Palace Hotel is by far the largest and handsomest 
building in the city. I have been told it covers four blocks, 
leaving a yard or drive in the center of the blocks. In the 
center of the four sides of this building are large arched 
gateways or halls leading through this court for carriages 
to drive through the different streets. It is several stories 
high, and very nicely finished off. The rooms are large, 
well ventilated, and richly furnished. The house has all 
the modern improvements. It was built, and is owned, by 
the Hon. William Sharon. 

The city has a very beautiful fountain. I think it is 
■called the " Lotta Fountain," in honor to the lady (a 
wealthy actress) who caused it to be erected for the poor. 
It has several solid silver cups, attached to chains, lor people 
to drink out of. There are other fountains in the city, but 
none of them are as handsome as this one. 

I attended the " Woman's Rights " Convention Society, 
Avhile I was in the city, with Mrs. McComb, and saw eight 
members taken into the order at one time. It is, I should 
judge, quite a strong organization. 

When we got back home that night, we were locked out, 
she having left her key at home. The family, thinking she 
had it, had retired for the night, and we could not arouse 
them, so we broke open the basement window and climbed 
in. " You go in first," said she ; " I will follow you. For 
if I got in first, and a policeman should come along, he 
might nab you for a robber; he will know me." I went in, 
and we closed the window and Avcnt up to bed. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 79 

I had been here eleven days, and had seen all 1 cared to 
of the city, therefore I decided to hasten home. 1 now 
bade my kind hostess adieu. I took the cars for Stockton, 
as I wished to visit the Insane Asylum. The doctor, a very 
gentlemanly person, showed me through the male depart- 
ment, and then sent a lady to show me over the building 
where the women were kept. They were large four-story 
brick buildings. They were kept scrupulously clean, every 
hall being carpeted with white rope-matting. The build- 
ings were surrounded by fine shade trees, and beautiful 
flower gardens and lawns. The whole was enclosed by a 
high fence. I spent about two hours going over the build- 
ings and grounds. 

I staid in Stockton all night, and took the early train, and 
reached Sacramento at eleven o'clock. 

It was raining quite hard. I was beset by cab-drivers at 
such a rate that I thought they would literally tear me in 
pieces. All were determined to take me to their hotel, and 
to get rid of them I said I had no money for my fare. 

This plan worked like magic, for I was immediately left 
standing alone. 

A very nice-looking young man came up to me with an 
umbrella over his head, and said; "I will show you to a 
hotel, if 3'ou wish." 

I told him I had lost my purse, and would have to go out 
and find a friend that was at work in some shop, and get 
some money of him. 

He said : " Go to the post-ofifice and look at the direc- 
tory ; I will show you the way." 

And taking my satchel from my hand, he carried it about 
four blocks to the office. 

I looked at the directory, but did not find his name. 

He then said : " Leave your satchel at my hotel, and 
take a check for it ; you can call for it whenever you 
choose." 



8o Ten Years in Nevada. 

I decided this to be my best plan, as I did not know 
where to find my friend. I might have to visit every shop 
in the city, and knew I could not carry that heavy satchel 
with me any great distance ; besides, it was still raining 
quite hard. 

1 walked along with him till we came to a nice brick 
hotel. 

" Here is my hotel," said he. " Now leave your satchel, 
and take this check, and then. go around to all the shops, 
and if you do not find him, come here and stay ; I will see 
your bill is paid." 

I left my satchel, and went to all the shops I could find, 
but none ol them were open. 

It was some day that was kept sacred by them. 

It was nearly dark. I did not like to go to a hotel and 
have a gentleman pay my bill, especially a stranger, so I 
called for my satchel, and gave up the check. 

I went to a hotel near the depot in order to catch the 
early train. 

I thought I would ask the landlady to let me stop all 
night, and give her a ring, but she was not at home. 

It was now quite dark, and I was quite anxious to see 
her. I asked the person who had shown me the sitting- 
room to send her to me as soon as she came in. 
t He said : " She will not be back till four o'clock in the 
morning. Is there anything I can do for you? I am 
waiter here." 

No, said I. I will see the landlord. 

" He has gone, too," said he. 

Well, said I, I wish to stop all night, and have lost my 
purse, but will find a friend in the city to-morrow, and then 
can pay my bill. That is why I wished to see them. 

"■ Well," said he, " I do not think they will let you stay." 

Well, since they are not here, I shall stay till they come, 
for they won't turn me out in the night. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 81 

He still stood in the door. 

I sat down on the sofa with my back to him, and took up 
a book and began to read, when, coming up to me, he said : 
" I have been in your situation more than once, and did not 
know what to do, and I feel sorry for you." 

Don't bother yourself, said \ ; it will be all right when I 
see the landlad)^ 

" But you can't sit up here till she comes. I will pay for 
your bed if you will share it with me." 

It seemed as if an adder had stung me. One moment my 
amazement held me spell-bound, and my tongue refused to 
move. Rage was now taking possession of me instead of 
amazement. I made one bound across the room and reached 
my satchel. 

Villain ! said I, do I look like such a person that you 
dare thus to insult me ? 

" No," said he, " but you know you have no money." 

But I have this, said I, leveling a pocket derringer at his 
head, and know how to protect myself with it. 

" Oh ! I beg your pardon, lady ; I did not mean to insult 
you ! " said he, cringing before the pistol, and backing out 
of the door. 

Have you a mother or sister, and yet dare insult an un- 
protected lady ? said I. 

" Yes, I had such, but she died, and I do not care what I 
do or say now," said he. 

Well, I care, and would send you where she is, only I 
would not stain my hands with your base blood. Go ! and 
do not trouble me with your disgusting presence again, or 
I will have you turned out of the house like a miserable 
wretch, which you are. 

He went down stairs on a double-quick move, and I did 
not see him again. 

Just then a servant girl came in. I asked her if the land- 
lady was in the house. 



82 Ten Years in Nevada. 

She said : " No, but I think she will be soon." 

I told her I wanted to see her when she came. 

I then took a book and sat down to try and calm down 
my feelings, for they were at white heat. 

I will now tell the reader how I came by the pistol. 

Before I left home my father objected to my going, and 
I did not gain his consent till the night before I started. 

He said : " I have had one child go there and lose his 
life, and I do not want another." 

I told him I had a pistol, and had been practicing at a 
mark. I intend to take it with me, and if there is any shoot- 
ing done, I will have a hand in it. 

" But you may kill some person, and repent it all your 
life, even if you are not hung," said he. 

I replied : I will only use it in self-defense, and will 
always think three times before I shoot once. 

Thank God ! I never had occasion to draw it on a person 
but twice, and in both cases I thought three times, and 
therefore did not shoot, although both deserved it. This 
was one of the times. 

I never went out alone without it in my pocket. 

The lady came home about seven o'clock. I told her I 
wanted to stay all night, and had lost my purse, but I would 
give her a ring. She said : " You can stay. I do not want 
your ring; you are welcome to your lodging." She showed 
me to a room, and I retired to rest. 

In the morning I found the shops open, but no Mr. 
McKown worked in any of them. One man said he did 
have a person there by that name, but he went to 'Frisco. 

I now went back and took my satchel to the depot, as I 
would not get breakfast when I had not the money to pay 
for it. I waited for the ten o'clock train, which soon 
arrived. 

I had just taken a seat in the car when a lady came in and 
took a seat beside me. We traveled some miles together, 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 83 

when I became faint, and fell over in her lap. She thought 
I had gone to sleep, and let me lie. 

In about ten minutes I began to groan, for I was coming 
to. She now lifted up my head, and seeing I had fainted, 
asked one of the passengers to bring some water. 

After she had brought me to, she told me to lay my head 
in her lap. 

I laid there till I felt better, and then sat up again. 

She took out her lunch now to eat, and said to me : 
" Have some of my lunch ; it will do you good. It will be 
an hour before you can get any dinner." 

I told her I would accept her kind offer, as I had nothing 
to eat with me, and I thought ver}^ likely it would make 
me feel better. I did not tell her that I had not tasted food 
in twenty-four hours, and it was that which caused me to 
faint. 

After I had finished my lunch I felt much better. 

I now went to look for something I had rolled up in a 
bundle and put in the bottom of my satchel, and there, in 
the center of the roll, was my purse. In a fit of absent- 
mindedness I had taken it from my pocket and rolled it up. 
I could not account for its being there in any other 
way. 

I assure you, kind reader, I stopped at the first place at 
which the train stopped, and got a cup of tea, for they did 
not wait long enough for me to get a square meal. 

I reached Gold Run, however, in time to take supper 
with Mrs. Craiger. 

I staid here one day to get recruited, and then started 
for Virginia City. 

I forgot to mention that at the time I thought my purse 
was lost, I had my ticket in my pocket all safe. 

Mrs. Craiger put me up a lunch, which lasted me to Vir- 
ginia City, for she said if I lost my purse again, I should 
not go hungry. 



84 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I reached Reno at nine o'clock, took the stage and trav- 
eled all night, reached Virginia City at six o'clock in the 
morning, after an absence of five weeks, 

I was homesick to see my darling boy. 

I left the stage at the International Hotel, and went up 
Union to A Street, to see if Mrs, Beck had heard from 
Charley since I left him ; also to get a cup of coffee, for I 
was both tired and hungry. 

They were not up yet, and as I did not like to disturb 
them, I went into the sitting-room and laid down on the 
sofa and covered myself up with some new quilts that she 
had been making, and thought I would lie there and rest 
till the family were up and breakfast ready. 

Before I could make my appearance I was soon lost in 
the land of dreams, I visited Silver City, and found my 
boy, but he appeared sick and pale and ragged and dirty. 
I dreamed Mrs. Hosman had treated him very badly, I was 
very indignant. 

She tried to vindicate her conduct, but I would not hear 
her. I told her the child showed for himself; I did not 
want a better witness. I told her I would not stay a day in 
her house. 

I finally got so excited that I awoke to find I had been 
dreaming. 

Then I began to think what if my dream were a reality ! 
What if my darling had really been misused all these five 
long weeks that I had been away from him ! 

And then I thought of many such cases I had read of, 
and it seemed as if I should go wild. 

Then I resolutely put the thought from me, saying it is 
only a dream, for she would never dare do such a thing, 
and I went off to sleep again. 

Reader, you will see hereafter how she did treat my help- 
less child. 

I had hardly closed my eyes in sleep before one of the 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 85 

roomers, who also boarded with her, got up and went 
through the room to the dining-room. He spoke to Mrs, 
Beck, and told her she had better get up, for he guessed 
she had company. 

" Who ? " said she. 

" Some one you do not want. I guess she is drunk," 
said he. 

Now, his passing through the room awoke me, and I 
heard the entire dialogue between them. 

" Go and ask her what she wants," said Mrs. Beck. 

" I had rather you would go," said Mr. Jackson, for that 
was the gentleman's name. 

" I am afraid to ; she lies on the sofa with a comforter 
over her. She is snoring like a steam-engine." 

At this I burst into a fit of laughter. Riding all night in 
the cold made me both tired and sleepy, and I suppose I 
breathed rather loud. 

But men are so apt to get everything about a woman 
wrong — especially old bachelors. He was one of this class, 
although not one of the cross, sour kind, as I learned after- 
wards by further acquaintance with him. 

It seemed so funny to me that I, of all others, should be 
accused of drunkenness (who had never tasted spirits in 
my life), that I could not help laughing again. 

Just at this moment he came to the door, and seeing me, 
he ran back and told my friend that I was surely drunk or 
crazy, for I was cramming my handkerchief in my mouth. 

This was more than I could bear, and I burst into a loud 
peal, when I heard Mrs. Beck say : " I will go and help 
her out. I do not want any drunken women around me." 

1 went to the door and met her. " I was no drunk, no 
crazy ; me heap hogeydic,'' said I, looking very sober. \_Ho- 
gcydie means hungry, in the Piute language]. 

As soon as she saw who it was, she turned to the man 
and said : " That is a good joke on you. This is the widow 



86 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I have been telling you about, and now you have accused 
her of being drunk, and spoiled everything." 

" Yes," said he, " my fat is all in the fire now ; it is just 
my luck." 

We all now had a hearty laugh over the affair. 

After breakfast I started for Silver City a-foot. 

It is five miles from Virginia City, but the stage did not 
start till ten o'clock, and I could not endure a longer sepa- 
ration from my boy. I took my satchel in my hand, and 
started. 

I had got as far as Gold Hill, when I met the husband of 
the woman with whom I had left Charlie. I asked him if 
Charlie was well. He said, " Sound as a cricket." He then 
asked me if I would help his wife wait on the table till he got 
back with a girl. I told him I would, and went on my way 
rejoicing to think my child was well. I reached there 
about nine o'clock. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Meeting of Mother and Child— Child Sick— The Revelation of Treatment 
to Child — Settlement — House Hunting — A Friend Moving to Virginia 
City — Taking in Washing — The School — A Cousin Found — Search for 
Lawyers. 

tT was nine o'clock when I reached the house. 
I passed through the dining-room to the kitchen, and 
did not see my child, or Mrs. Osborne. 

I asked the Chinaman where CharUe was. 

He said : " Up stairs." 

I ran up there, and met a little boy in the hall carrying a 
pail of slop bigger than he was. 

I did not know him, and said to him : Little boy, do you 
know Charlie Mathews? Can you tell me where to find 
him ? and the next moment that ragged, dirty little fellow 
was in my arms with his thrown around my neck. 

Yes, reader, it was my own loved and idolized child — so 
dirty and ragged that I did not know him. 

Oh ! kind reader, pity a mother's heart, for mine was 
nearly bursting. 

"(9//, mamma ! " he cried, with tears of joy, "they tried to 
make me think you had gone off and left me for good, but 
I knew you would come back to me, because you said you 
would." 

Just then Mrs. Osborne came out of a room, and, seeing 
me, said: " Why, how do you do? Get down, Charlie, 
you great baby, your mother is tired." 



88 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Not quite so much as he appears to be, said I, deigning 
her no other reply, while Charlie still clung tighter around 
my neck and fairly smothered me with kisses. 

He said : " Oh, I am so glad, for I am so tired and sick 
and dirty ! " 

I carried him down stairs, got a dish of water, and gave 
him a good washing, then combed and cut his hair, put on 
a night-dress, and put him in bed, for when I got the dirt 
off of him, he resembled a ghost more than the child I left. 

I gave him some medicine, for he was very sick with 
bowel complaint. I then got him a cup of strong tea and a 
plate of toast. 

I asked Charlie what he had been doing up stairs. 

"Oh, mamma ! I have had to sweep, and empty slops, and 
scour all the knives and forks since you went away, and my 
clothes are all worn out and dirty." 

I asked him why he did not get out his other suit from 
the trunk. He replied that he did get them, and had worn 
them out. 

I went out and left him to rest. 

I took water and soap, and soon had all his dirty clothes 
drying on the line. 

I found them thrown out in the wash-room in a pile. 

She had promised to have her squaw do his washing, but 
had failed to keep her promises in every respect. 

It was now dinner-time, and she came to me and said : 
" I do not know what to do ; I have no one to help me wait 
on the table." 

I told her I had promised Mr. Osborne to help her till he 
got back. 

" Oh ! I am so glad," said she. "And can't Charlie scour 
the knives for me ? " 

No, ma'am, said I ; he has scoured all the knives he ever 
will here. I did not leave him here to work for his board. 
I made a fair bargain with you, and I am ready to fulfill 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 89 

my part of it, although you have not kept yours. But I 
will not talk about it now. 

I went to the dining--room to take orders, for I saw the 
table was filling up. 

I helped her through dinner, but she did not ask me to 
help at supper-time. She had got enough of my help, for I 
had changed every order that was given me. For mutton- 
chop I gave steak ; for baked pork and beans I gave roast 
beef; for pudding I gave pie; and for tea I gave coffee, 
until the whole table was in confusion. 

Some laughing, others swearing — some asking Mrs. Os- 
borne where she made the raise of her new hash-slinger, 
while others told her she had better sell out. And thus 
they continued to plague her through the entire meal. 

Most of the sixty boarders had seen me, and they knew I 
was Charlie's mother ; and those who knew how she had 
treated him mistrusted that I was pa3'ing her off, for I 
heard their remarks. 

But I do not think it ever entered her head, for she was 
not the smartest woman I ever saw, except to work, for she 
could endure more hard work in a day than any one I ever 
saw, and she thought everybody else ought to do as much 
as she did. 

One man gave me back his cofifee, and said : Please give 
me some tea, for I am in a hurry ; get even on the old 
woman some other way. I do not blame you, though ; if 
she had had some women to deal with, she would never get a 
dime." 

When she took my child to board I did not promise to 
'•sling hash " for her to pay for it, but was to sew for her; 
but had she treated my child right, I would willingly have 
helped her when she needed it. 

But she had not only made him work, but he had worked 
when so sick that he should have been in bed. He had had 
his meals so irregularly that he was nearly starved. She 



go* Ten Years in Nevada. 

kept him waiting till everybody else was through eating, 
until the Chinaman felt sorry for him, and gave him pie oi 
cake, just as it happened, and would tell him to go out in 
the shed and eat it. 

This is the way she had treated him. She had not even 
given him my letters to read (he could read writing, but 
could not write). If he had known where I was, he could 
have got some person to write to me, but she had kept all 
letters from him, and he did not know where to find me. 

It was his going without eating till nine and ten o'clock, 
together with the hard work he had done, that had brought 
him to the skeleton I found him. 

And I wished now to pay her up, and then give her a 
good letting alone, for I never stoop to quari^el with any- 
body. 

I sewed for her till she was paid up, and then went to 
Virginia City house-hunting. 

I was told of a Mr. French who had a house to let. 

I called on him. He had just rented it to ]Mr. Greeley. 

While I was trying to rent a part of the house of him, he 
asked how long I had been in town. I told him I was from 
the East, and had only been there a few months. I then 
asked him if he had lived there long. 

" Ten or fifteen years," he replied. 

I then asked him if he knew my brother. 

He remembered the name, but nothing more ; had heard 
his cousin speak of him. 

He could not give me a decided answer till next week. 

I now went to Mrs. Beck, and told her if she heard of a 
place, to drop me a note. 

I then returned to Silver City, for I had left Charlie at a 
neighbor's until I came back. 

I had scarcely got back before the stage brought me a 
note from Mrs. Beck, slating she had procured a house for 
me, and to come up and bring my things. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. gi 

I took the one o'clock stage and went up to Virginia 
City. 

When I reached Mrs. Beck's house she told me the man 
that had the house was another Mr. French. "And he was 
an old tricnd of your brother," said she. 

She went with me to his store. He kept a large grain 
store on C Street. 

He told me he had a house on G Street, already fur- 
nished, for $15 a month. 

We went and looked at it, and I took it. 

I did not move until morning, as I had no wood there, 
and it was so late. The gentleman said he would send me 
a load of wood, already cut, in the morning. 

I gave him $4, and he sent me the wood. 

That night I asked Mrs. Burkhalter how she happened 
to know about the house. 

She said : " Mr. French happened to call on his cousin, 
jNIr. Greeley, and he told him that Charles McNair's sister 
had just been in to hire the house. Mr. French asked him 
where you were stopping, and he said at my house. They 
both came down, and I told them you were in Silver Citv." 

He said : " Send for her. I will let her have a house. I 
was an old friend of her brother." 

The next day I went to house-keeping in good style. 

I had a nice kitchen, a table, chairs, stove, a cupboard 
full of dishes, two wash-boards, three tubs, and any amount 
of flat-irons. 

My sitting-room had a nice three-ply carpet, a hair sofa,, 
six cane-bottomed chairs, and a large rocking-chair ; a table,, 
bureau, and a nice spring-bed, and plenty of clothes on it. 

1 was now comfortably situated for the winter, which had 
now fairly set in, everything being frozen up in town, and 
quite a deep snow. 

After I was settled I sent my child to school, and then 
went out to look for work. 



1 



92 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I got a little sewing of several, but not enough to pay 
rent and keep us in food. And the little money I had left 
of my journey, with the $4 Charlie had earned carrying 
mail for the boarders while at Mrs. Osborne's, was all I 
had. He had also bought himself a pair of boots, and a 
nice worsted dress for a Christmas present for me. 

With the $4 I now bought provisions to start on; but, as 
I said, the money was running low. 

The tubs suggested the idea of taking in washing, for 
the prospects were a hard winter. 

Business became dull, and everybody tried to do their 
own sewing. 

Tasked Mr. French to give me his washing to do. 

He did so, and also got his clerk to send his. 

Mrs. Beck got some of her roomers for me, and an old 
gentleman of the name of French, to whom I had first 
talked of getting a house, brought me his. 

In all I had twelve to wash lor, and it brought me about 
$8 a week. This, with my sewing, just about supported 
me, for provisions were very high. 

Butter $1 a roll — the rolls containing one pound, or a 
pound and a quarter. Beans were 10 cents a pound. A 
pound would just fill a coffee-cup. Onions were 6 and 7 
cents a pound, and about three would make a pound. Po- 
tatoes were 5 cents a pound, and apples the same. In fact, 
everything sold by the pound. 

I have paid $3 and I4 for as many apples as I have 
seen sold in the East for 25 cents, and have paid 25 
cents for no more than four apples, and not large ones 
either. 

Flour was the cheapest article of produce in the market, 
being $5 and $6 per hundred weight. 

I have bought 25 cent's worth of cherries, and found 1 
had paid a penny apiece for them, and plums in the same 
proportion. 



Life 071 the Pacific Coast. 93 

Peaches were lo cents apiece, unless you bought them 
by the box. 

The Nevadans are no penny-mites. 

The smallest change is one dime, which they call a " short 
bit" — 12 cents being a "bit," 15 cents a "long bit," 25 
cents "two bits," 50 cents "four bits," and 75 cents "six 
bits." A dollar is a dollar. 

So you see if you just want an apple, peach, or pear, you 
have to pay 10 cents. 

If you want anything that is just 10 cents, and should 
give 25 cents, they will give you back 10 cents, and keep the 
15 cents — giving you the " short bit," and they keeping the 
"long bit." 

On the other hand, if you want atiything that is worth 
15 cents, and should have but 10 cents, they will take it just 
as readily. For instance, you wish for a yard of cloth that 
is 15 cents a yard, you will offer 10 cents, and they will take 
it. But if you give them 25 cents, they will give you back 
10 cents. 

At these high figures I had hard work to keep up rent. 
And wood was from $12 to $25 a cord, and coal $25 a ton. 

I did a good deal of sewing. I did some for Mrs. Judge 
Rising, and before I got it finished I took a severe cold. I 
sent Charlie home with the work that was finished, and 
when she learned I was sick, she sent me a basket of jellies 
and canned fruit, pickles, and other knick-knacks, as much 
as the child could carry. 

I considered it very kind of her, for I was an entire 
stranger to her, only having done a little sewing for her. 
She also paid a good price for it. 

The first night that I got settled in our new quarters was 
the happiest I had seen in three months, and we enjoyed 
our supper more than any we had eaten in the same time. 

One cold day Mrs. Beck came down to see me. She 
went away, but soon returned, bringing me some jelly, pie. 



'94 l^tni Years i>i Nevada. 

cake, and a pail of hot soup, although the weather was very 
cold, and I lived several streets from her. Charlie did not 
have to cook much that day. 

I was now very careful, and in a few days got around 
again ; but the washing was too much for me, and wore me 
out very fast, but I could not give it up just yet. 

About three weeks after I had got settled, the water col- 
lector called, and while there I made inquiries of him, as I 
did of everybody, to see if he had known my brother, in 
hopes to learn something new of him. 

He said he did not know him, but he did know Frank 
McNair, on the Divide. 

" Is he a relative of yours? " he asked. 

I told him I had a cousin somewhere by that name. 

I requested him to let Mr. McNair know where I was 
stopping. He did so. 

The next day he called. 

I was not at home, but had left word with a neighbor 
that if he called, to tell him I would be there at night, for 
I had to go to Silver City on business. 

He called again on Sunday, took dinner with me, and 
from that time forth I saw him nearly every day. 

This took away a great deal of our home-sickness. 

One day I sent Charlie to get some milk. When he came 
■home he said : " Mamma, I guess I have spoilt your pail! " 
I looked at the pail. It looked as if he had used it for a 
foot-ball. 

I asked him how he did it — if he had played foot-ball 
■with it. 

" Worse than that," said he ; "I whipped a boy with it, 
^nd made him run, too. I know you told me not to light, 
but I could not help it. A little boy threw me down and 
choked me, but some other boys put him up to it. I tried 
to get away, but they surrounded me, and he took me 
■down and choked me. When I got up I was so mad that I 



Life on the Pacifie Coast. 95 

did not care for my finger, whether I hurt it or not. I took 
my pail, and went for the whole crowd. They all ran, but 
I caught the boy and thrashed him with the pail until he 
cried." 

I asked the boy's name, and found out where his parents 
lived. 

The next morning I called on the lady. She was a very 
pleasant person, and quick-spoken. 

I told her I had simply called to see if she would be kind 
enough to keep her boy from stopping Charlie on the street 
and hurting him, as Charlie had a sore finger, for if he got 
it hurt, he was liable to have the lock-jaw. 

She said : " I am very sorry my bo}' has hurt your child, 
but he shall not touch him again." 

She was very lady-like, and invited me in, but, being in a 
hurry, I declined. She then said : " Mrs. Mathews, I am 
going to move next door to you to-day, and I hope this 
will not be your last call. I hope we shall be good friends, 
and the children, too." And she called Sammie to her, and 
told him he must never hurt Charlie again. 

I thanked her, and said that I presumed we should be 
friends. 

I liked her appearance from the first. 

She said : " Do not wait for me to get settled, but come 
right along." 

I will, said I, and did call on her the same week that she 
moved ; and from that time the most intimate friendship 
sprang up between us. 

We often laughed over our first introduction, and I think 
we have even been glad the children had the little spat 
which brought about our acquaintance. 

The children's friendship was true and lasting as ours. 

I will here give you a specimen of it. We had been here 
some three months, when Sammie came and asked me it 
Charlie might go with him to see some camels up at the 



96 Ten Years in Nevada. 

store. They had brought in a load from the desert. Charlie 
had never seen one, and I told him to go ; gave him a piece 
in his hand to eat till he came back, breakfast not being ready. 

They went off, but not finding the camels, followed on 
after them for seven miles, until they came in sight of a 
house where Sammie had boarded the summer before. The 
place was called Lousetown. 

They were so hungry that they went to the garden and 
ate raw onions. The lady was not at home, but came just 
as they were about to go back, and gave them some dinner, 
and then sent them back. They got home at nine o'clock 
at night, tired and hungry, having traveled fourteen miles. 

When they did not return to breakfast, I went in and 
asked Mrs. Calvin if Sammie had returned. 

She said : " No ; but I guess he is all right, for his papa 
is up at the store ; don't worry about them." 

And when it was dinner-time and they had not come, I 
went to the store after him. No one there had seen either 
of them. 

We then became very uneasy, and went over the entire 
city looking for them. 

Every old shaft was examined and looked into, calling on 
them by name. 

Every tunnel was sounded, but no Sammie, no Charlie 
answered. 

We now became frantic. We were sure they were ly- 
ing at the bottom of one of the many old shafts that are 
everywhere met with on the Comstock uncovered and un- 
guarded by any railing, exposing the lives ot any person 
who passes by them in the night. 

We had all our friends out looking for them. It was now 
dark. 

Mrs. Calvin thought Charlie had gone to Silver City, and 
got Sammie to go with him. We telegraphed down, but 
found he had not been there. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 97 

Just as we had got the dispatch, Mr. Calvin came into 
the office and told us our boys had gone home. A man had 
seen them go. 

We now ran instead of walking, for we were afraid it 
was too good news to be true. 

But when 1 reached her house I went in, and there sat 
the two lost ones eating supper. Sammie's grandmother 
had got ready for them, and she sat watching them with 
tears in her eyes. 

Mrs. Calvin said : " Why, mamma, you are crying, and 
the children are found ! " 

" I can't help it," said she ; " do you know what they have 
done, and where they have been ? " 

Of course neither of us knew. 

She then said : " The poor little things have been to Mer- 
rett's ranche and back — fourteen miles. And when they 
got to the grade coming into the cit}^ Sammie was afraid 
his papa would whip him, and he commenced crying, but 
Charlie Mathews, the dear little child, told him to change 
clothes with him, and he would come in with his head down 
and get the whipping, then go down stairs to the shed, 
where Sammie was to wait for him, and change back 
clothes." 

Sammie told him "No, I will not; for you don't know 
how hard papa whips ! " 

" Never mind," said Charlie, " I want to see how it will 
seem to be whipped." 

So they changed clothes, and Charlie came and stuck his 
head in the door, and I asked him if he knew where Sam- 
mie or Charlie was (for I did not know him till he com- 
menced laughing), and told me Sammie was down stairs. 

" What is he doing down there ? " I asked. 

" He is waiting for me to get his whipping," said Charlie, 
" and then I am going down and change back clothes, and 
his papa won't know it." 



98 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" There, now ! did you ever see anything to beat that in 
all your life ? " said she. 

I told him to go and change back, and get ready for 
supper. 

" I wonder what he would do with Sammie's red hair," 
said Mrs. Calvin, bursting into a fit of laughter. 

"Oh, Charlie ! " said Sammie, "you never thought about 
my red hair ! " 

" Well, it is all right, now ; your papa will be as glad to 
see you as anybody," said Charlie. 

So it turned out that the boy he had whipped with a pail he 
now liked well enough to be whipped lor him, in order that 
he might be saved. And I think Mrs. Calvin would fight 
lor me, if it was necessary, just as quick, fori am sure I 
would for her. 

We spent many happy evenings together that winter. 

After I had sent Charlie to school about three weeks, he 
caught a severe cold from the window at the school-house 
being open on his back. I sent word to the teacher, asking 
if she would not seat him somewhere else, and she told him 
he might as well sit there as anybody. 

When I heard this I took him from school, and taught 
him myself, as I always had. 

Mrs. Calvin came in one day, and after hearing me in- 
struct Charlie in his lesson, asked me why 1 would not start 
a select school. I said I would if I could get scholars 
enough. 

"Will twelve do?" said she. 

I said it would. 

" Well, just keep my baby for me, and I will get you 
some," said Mrs. Calvin. 

She was gone about two hours, and when she came back 
she had twelve names. The children would commence on 
the following Monday. This was Thursday. I was to have 
50 cents apiece per week. 



Life on the Pacific Coast, 99 

But one, Mrs. Babcock, always sent me $1.50 a week for 
her two girls, because she said 50 cents was not enough. 

Monday came, and with it twelve as bright-looking chil- 
dren as you would wish to see. They were very smart, and 
learned very fast. 

In time my school numbered twenty. I now was able to 
lay up a little every week till I had $35 laid by to fee a law- 
yer, for I had tried nearly every lawyer in the city, but no 
one would take my case on contingent fee — all wanted 
money. I could also afford to buy a few knick-knacks lor 
my child, who seemed to have a poor appetite, and pined 
for such things ; but I always had to share, or pretend to 
share, them with him or they did him no good. 

I always had plenty of hearty, substantial food, for I 
knew I could not do hard work without it. 

But Charlie was a dainty child, and could no more go 
without dainties than I could substantial food. 

One day a gentleman, from whom I had rented the first 
house when I landed in Virginia City, came and brought 
me a half-barrel of flour, a large twelve-quart can of raisins, 
a pail of different kinds of spices, a chopping-bowl and 
knife, a rolling-pin, a ham, and a variety of other things. 

Their dwelling was just opposite me, and his wife and 
myself had become very intimate. 

She had just had a little boy killed by the cars, and was 
nearly insane with grief. But I had done all I could to 
soothe her aching heart. 

She spent many hours at my house, and 1 suppose he felt 
grateful to me. 

They were now going below for her health, and also to 
get her away from the scene of the accident, and having a 
good deal of provisions on hand, was giving it to his 
neighbors. 

Among the things he brought us were two bottles of 
California wine. Well, I was very much obliged lor this 



lOO Ten Years in Nevada. 

little wind-fall, for it was very hard times just then, yet it 
was very unexpected to me. 

With my school, washing, and sewing-, I had now laid by 
$35 towards my law business, but had not yet found a law- 
yer to take my case on contingent fees, although I had tried 
eight months nearly every day ; had talked with thirty-two 
lawyers, but all wanted a retaining fee of from $iooto $500, 
except one, Mr. Elliott. 

He did take the case for awhile on contingent fee, but 
finally gave it up. 

Others promised, and would take the papers for a week 
and then return them, and say I could not get anything ; 
but if I wished to get out papers of administration, I must 
give them $500. 

Others wanted $300. Now I began to think there was 
something wrong, for there was quite a difference in the 
prices, as the most of them told me the money all went to 
the State. 

Mr. Elliott told me to get my papers out. They would 
only cost what it cost to get them recorded. He could not 
tell exactly, about $35 or $40 ; not more. He was the sec- 
ond lawyer I went to. 

After he gave it up, and the other lawyers said it would 
cost $200 or $300, I began to think he was a novice in law 
matters, or the rest great rascals. So I went to the presid- 
ing judge, who heard my story. " You had better put 
your papers in the stove and burn them, and go back East, 
for it will cost $500, at least, to take out papers of adminis- 
tration, and then you cannot get anything," said he. "Our 
laws are so different here from those in the East." 

Well, I made up my mind the man did not know it all, if 
he was a judge, and I could not help hoping his term of 
office would expire before I had any business done, for I 
did not think he looked or talked very smart. He was very 
young, and I thought green-looking. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. loi 

I did not think he could have made a good judge to de- 
cide an important case before I had any business to decide. 
His term of office expired in a very sad way for his friends. 
He was killed in a railroad accident, near San Francisco, 
and I think Judge Rising took his place, and has filled it 
ever since by the voice of the people. 

He is a general favorite. I always took a great interest 
in reading court items, and 1 never noticed but two cases 
where I did not think his decision just, and in both these 
cases his judgment was, in my opinion, entirely wrong. 
But I suppose he is not infallible, but liable to error as well 
as any man some time or other. But I am wandering from 
my subject. 

I called on Judge Campbell, who was said to be at that 
time the smartest lawyer in the city. He also advised me 
to burn up my papers. He said : " It will cost $300 before 
you get your papers out, and that is more than you will get 
back." 

But he was like the rest — something was wrong. 

Either their opinions or principles were at fault. I do 
not know which. 

About this time my friend Mrs. Beck went to Gold 
Hill. While there she met a young man who said he was 
a lawyer. She told him she had a friend who wanted to get 
a lawyer to do some business for her, but could find no one 
willing to take it on contingent fees. 

" I will," said he. " It is a shame the way lawyers act — 
will never take a case for a poor person. Now, / would 
rather assist her than a rich person. I will come up and 
see her." He got my number of her. 

In a few days he called to see me, and asked to look at 
the papers. 

I showed them to him, and said he thought I had a good 
case ; if I would let him look the papers over more at his 
leisure, he could tell better. 



102 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I told him he could take them, but I wanted him to be 
careful of them, and not lose them, or get them burned. 

He said he would be very choice of them, and went 
away. 

I did not exactly like the tone of his voice, or his looks 
either, for he did not look smart, not even enough to be a 
rogue, although he talked through his nose, and was very 
soft-spoken — one of the best signs of a rogue I ever noticed. 

I know two brokers in Virginia City who have this 
peculiar way of speaking, and I think either of them 
would rob his mother of her last dime. I may be mis- 
taken. 

Well, I thought he knew enough to take out the papers, 
at any rate. He said it would not cost but $35,^and I was 
very anxious to have this much done. 

I had, instead of writing to the governor of Nevada (as 
I had been directed to by Mr. Waters), called on him at his 
residence in Carson City ; told him my business, and showed 
him the letter. 

He said : " I am not acquainted with the man ; am not 
sure I have ever had an introduction, but may have had. I 
know him by name, that is all." 

The governor thought I had a good case, and advised 
me to make all haste in taking out papers of administration 
on my brother's estate. Thought very likely he had left 
considerable property, and he believed I ought to have it, 
and hoped I would get it. He talked more reasonable and 
.sensible than any man I had talked with in the State. 

He said it would only cost me clerk fees, just as Mr. 
Elliott had told me. 

His kind words were very cheering, and I went home 
quite encouraged to struggle on and lay up money to fight 
it through. 

I had already got $30 laid up when Mr, Hutchinson first 
came and offered to take up the case. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 1 03 

Let me here give you a description of him, for perhaps 
some of my readers may perchance meet him in some 
business transaction. He is about five feet nine, slim, 
Hght complexion, pale blue eyes ; his hair sandy, and his 
right eye badly crossed. 

After he had the papers a few days, he came and told me 
he was going to Carson City, and had the papers nearly 
made out. I asked him if he would be back the next day. 
He said " Yes." 

I said I had a suit I wished him to look after. 

He said : " Well, I will be here by the first stage." 

But he did not come in three weeks. 

When he did come, he was very sorry, but the stage 
went off, he said, and left him. 

Well, I believed him. 

He said : " I have the papers ready to record." 

I told him I would get ready and go with him to the office. 

He said it was not necessary for me to go; I could just 
give him the money. 

Now, I confess I had some misgivings about giving him 
the money, and finally thought I would have a witness of 
it, so I told him he would have to go over to Mrs. Beck's 
with me to get the money. 

We went over, but when we got to the door, he would 
not go in, and said he was in a great hurry. 

I then went in, and told Mrs. Beck my fears, and asked 
her to go to the door with me and see the money paid to 
him. 

She did so, and heard him say to me : " Everything is all 
ready now, and I will push the thing right along." 

" Now," said Mrs. Beck, " I want you to do your best for 
my friend ; if you succeed, you shall have all of my business 
to do." 

" I will," said he, "for I may not have to use all of this. 
I will try and save as much of it as I can for you." 



104 '^^^^ Years in Nevada. 

I did not see him again in three weeks, and then he came 
in great haste one night and handed me my papers, and 
said he was through with them for the present. He said 
Judge Rising had gone to the springs for his health, and 
would not be back in two weeks, and he did not feel well, 
and thought he would go, too. 

"And I think you had better take charge of these papers 
for fear of fire," said he. 

I took them. And again a strange presentiment came to 
me, and it seemed as if I must follow him and ask him for 
the money. I did go to the door to get it back of him, but 
he was whirling out of sight down B Street, towards the 
Giger grade, and I have never sat eyes on him since, 
although two years after a friend of mine saw him in Gold 
Hill, and told me he had just married, and was going on 
his wedding tour to the States. 

1 employed a lawyer to hunt him up. He said he would 
if he was there, and would let me know what success he 
had ; but failed to keep his promise, and that was the last 
of my $30. 

I was still washing, teaching, and sewing. 

Perhaps the reader would like to know how I managed 
to do it. 

I got up early every Monday morning, and got my clothes 
all washed and boiled and in the rinsing water ; then com- 
menced my school at nine. At noon I spent my leisure 
time sewing ; and after school I did the same after I got 
my supper out of the way. I often sewed till twelve and 
one o'clock at night. After all was quiet, I could do a great 
deal of sewing. 

Tuesday morning I had my clothes on the line by day- 
light, and my breakfast ready. 

After breakfast my work was soon done up, and I sewed 
again till nine o'clock. 

At noon I starched all my clothes. After school I ironed 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 105 

as many of them as I could, and at night finished the rest 
of them. Then I had the rest of the week to sew in ; but 
I could not lay up money very fast. 

My friend, Mrs. Beck, was very anxious for me to get 
started in my law business, for she did not like to see me 
work so hard ; so she proposed to me to raffle a large oil 
painting I had. It was one my sister gave me to sell should 
I get out of money. She said : " You will not get half 
what it is worth if you sell it ; but we will get out some 
tickets, and sell all we can before the raffle comes off." 

We got out three hundred, and sold them at $1 per 
ticket. We sold two hundred and twenty-five. 

The $25 I spent in provisions, which was money to me. 
I put the $200 on interest. 

The painting was raffled off, but no one came for the pict- 
ure, and it naturally fell to me by right. 

But the man who raffled it off refused to let it go for six 
months after that. He said I could have it, but when the 
time had expired, he said it belonged to him, and he gave 
it to Mrs. Beck to square some present or debt. 

She gave it back to me, for she said it rightfully belonged 
to me, and I gave her $10, for I did not like to have her 
lose the whole of her present. 

I called on a lawyer about this time. 

He told me, after examining my papers, that I had a 
splendid case on my fifty shares of Kentucky stock, and he 
would take the case for one-third of what he got. I agreed 
to this. His name was Williams. 

He said : "Call again in three or four days, and I will 
look over the case, and tell you what the prospects are." 

I called in just four days, and he said : " You can't get 
anything without a great deal of trouble, and I want S500 
to begin with." 

I was perfectly astonished, and told him I thought he 
was to take it for one-third of what he got. 



io6 Ten Years in Nevada. 

He pretended to be surprised, and said: " Well, madam, 
there is a law in the old country for punishing all persons 
who take a case on contingent fees, also the party who 
employs them, and it ought to be so here. I wish it was. 
Besides, you can't make anything out of the Kentucky; 
you are oiie day too late ! " 

I was so indignant I did not stop to ask him what he 
meant by "one day too late." I told him I was- thankful I 
did not hve in the old country ; if he preferred their laws, 
he had better go there. 

To think he should first tell me that he would take the 
case for one-third, and then tell me he must have $500 down, 
and when he found I would not give it, tell me I had no case ! 

When he had shown his hand, I was glad he did not take 
the business, for I was sure he would have managed to 
cheat me out of the whole. He was the worst of any 1 
talked with. 

He was even worse than the thief that robbed me of my 
$30, for he would have taken $500 instead. But one lesson 
was quite enough for me. 

I got another lawyer to take the case on contingent fees 
by the name of White. He had done some business at 
one time for my brother. 

1 told him 1 had Mr. Stone, of Silver City, a first-class en- 
gineer, measure the water in the ditches leading from the 
Old Kentucky tunnel, and found it measured forty-seven 
inches on the level. I had also learned from reliable sources 
that the water from this tunnel was sold for $1 an inch per 
month, the whole year through, to each of the mills at 
American Flats, and also to all the mills between lower 
Gold Hill and Silver City. 

There were fourteen of them in all, and the water had 
been selling at this rate for five years, and my share of this 
was lawfully one-twentieth of $1,213,690, counting simple 
interest. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 107 

I told him the water company had it in their possession,, 
having bought it for assessments only thirteen days after 
my brother's death. 

I had been to different members of the company, and 
they had offered to settle, and gave me three days to- 
decide on what I would take for my share. 

I had taken three days, because he (Mr. White) was out 
of town, and I wished to consult with him. 

He said : " I will think it over, and let you know to- 
morrow." 

When I called, he was not in. 

I then called on the company, and they each referred me 
to the other members, all saying they would do what the 
other members thought was right. 

Mr. Fair was the last one, and I told him I should com- 
mence a suit immediately if he did not settle with me. 

He wished me to wait till Mr. Mackey came from San. 
Francisco, and then they would settle. 

I asked him when he expected him. 

" In a couple of days, at most," said he. 

I told him I would wait. When the time was up I called,, 
and he said he had nothing to settle ; if I had money to 
light the water company, go ahead. 

I called at White's office several times, but could never 
find him. One day I met him in the hall going to his 
office. I told him 1 had called on him several times, 
but never found him. I told him what Mr. Fair had 
said. 

" Well," said he, " I have seen them and told them they 
had better give you $25 to get rid of you and let you go 
home, for you were a poor woman, and they ought to give 
you something." 

I was very indignant when he told me this, and told him 
I was not poor enough to take $25 for §60,000. 

I thought I might as well look for another lawyer, for I 



loS Ten Years in Nevada. 

saw a deficiency in this one, either in sense or principle; 
but I did not stop to anal3'ze him. 

One day, while hunting lawyers. Judge Noyes said he 
knew one who was pretty smart, and sometimes came there 
to dinner. I asked him to let me know when he came 
again. He said he would. 

About a month after this I had been sick several days. I 
had poisoned my finger with a fish-bone. I was barely able 
to sit up at this time. I was sitting on the lounge combing 
my hair, when Mrs. Seltzer came to the door with a gentle- 
man, and said : " This is the lawyer father spoke to you 
about." 

I said : I am glad you have come, for you can look over 
the papers. But I am not able to attend to any kind of 
business to-day. I got the papers and gave them to him to 
look over, and sat down again. He looked them over in a 
short time, and, laying them down, said : " I do not know ; 
I will think of it, but do not see much of a case at present. 
I cannot take them, but will run in again, when I have more 
time, and look at them." 

I said, very well ; and was quite willing he should go, for 
I felt very bad, and really thought I was going to faint 
again, as I had once that morning. I reached over to the 
table for some medicine, when he said : " You look very 
pale ; what is the matter ? " 

I told him I had been very sick from a poisoned finger, 
and was not able to sit up. But he did not take the hint 
and go. I got up and- crossed over to the table and com- 
menced to pile up some books which lay scattered over the 
table. 

He got up and followed me, and said : " I do not think 
I can do anything with those papers to-day." And before 
I was aware of his intentions, he attempted to kiss me. In 
a second I seemed to possess the strength of a lion ; anger 
electrified me and sent the hot blood coursing through my 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 109 

veins. I sprang back from his would-be embrace before 
his poisonous lips had polluted my face by their touch. I 
seized a clothes-brush, and sent it flying at his head. 

Go ! said I, contcuiptible villain, and never dare to enter my 
presence again ! I did not send for you to come and kiss 
me. Go ! I can get decent lawyers to transact my business. 

" What a fury ! " said he. "A moment ago you looked as 
if you were going to faint, and now you look as if you 
could kill half a dozen." 

This impudence roused my temper to white heat, and 
seizing a pair of scissors, I threw them at his head. He 
dodged them, and rushed from the room. I picked up the 
scissors and found them minus one point. I was often 
asked by my lady friends how the point came off my scis- 
sors. I always gave them the same answer — I bit it off one 
day in a fit. 

I have never seen this person since, nor do I wish to. I 
was so blinded by passion that I did not think of my pistol^ 
and was very thankful I did not, for I fear I should not 
have stopped three times to think before using it. 

For his wife's sake, who, I hear, is a very nice woman, I 
will suppress the villain's name. 

Judge Noyes' family will probably remember the circum- 
stance should they see this. 



CHAPTER V. 

A Law Suit— A Move to B Street— More Friends— A Move to A Street— A 
Deal in Stocks — Buying a House — Moving Again — Sickness and a Broken 
Arm — Novelties in Love-making. 

HILE I was teaching on G Street, a colored woman 
^^^ came to me to get me to teach her Vo read and 
spell and write. She said she would give me $5 a week to 
come to her house and teach her one hour each day. I 
was very glad to do this, for it was an extra income. 

I had taught her three months, and found her an apt 
scholar, and good, prompt pay. It was only a short dis- 
tance from my house. 

This brought me $20 a month extra. 

But there is scarcely ever pleasure without pain — some- 
thing to break the cord of harmony. 

I saw many mysterious things at this house. She was a 
great talker, and knew everybody's business as well il not 
better than they did themselves. I used often to find a 
little white child crying, and shut up in its room ; a tiny 
little two-year-old thing, that could speak but two words — 
^' Mamma," and "No." 

I often found it crying, and concluded its mother had 
-gone out and left it, and it was crying for her. 

I used to pet it, but black Lize coming in one day and 
finding me holding her, took her and laid her on the bed, 
and told her to lie still and go to sleep. Turning to me, 
she said : " She is sick." 



Life ov the Pacific Coast. 1 1 1 

In a few days I fcnind her again alone, and crying. I 
took her up. and as I did so, she cried out as if hurt. I 
untied her apron, and on her chest was a large lump the 
size of a walnut, all black ; it looked as if she had been 
struck with a club. 

I then examined the child's body, and found its back and 
legs literally covered with welts. I now knew that the 
child was abused. I did not know what to do, as I had but 
a few intimate friends, and not manv acquaintances. So I 
went to Bishop 'Whittaker, and told him how the child was 
abused. I told him I felt as if the child would die from 
the treatment, and if I should not let it be known in 
time to save it, that I would be equally guilty of the 
crime with her, and I could not sleep nights thinking 
of it. 

" If you feel like that," said he, "you had better go to a 
justice of the peace, and make a complaint." 

I said I did not know where to go. 

" Go on C Street, to Judge Livingston, and when you are 
ready for the suit I will go with you, if you like." 

I thanked him, and said I would like to have him go 
very much, as I was a stranger, and his presence might 
make a difference in the case. 

The next day I went, as usual, to hear her lesson and get 
my pay for the last week, as she could not make change, 
and it had run over a day or two. 

This morning I found her on the back porch of the third 
story with the child standing in a tub of water, and she 
with a dipper pouring cold water on its head — the poor 
child screeching and screaming between each breath it 
caught, for the cold water took its breath quite away. It 
was fairly purple with cold. 

I sprang forward and caught the child from the tub, say- 
ing: Don't you see the child is going into a fit ? For it 
had now got past screaming, and was holding its breath. 



112 Ten Years in Nevada. 

She threw a shawl over her body, and took her off to 
another room. 

She was gone some time, and when she returned, she 
said : " I have not time to take a lesson to-day. Here is 
your money for last week." And she turned and went in 
the room where she left the child. 

I now hastened up to the court-room on C Street, and 
made my complaint. The trial was set for ten o'clock the 
next day. 

When I was ready to go, I called for Bishop Whittaker. 

He said he had thought the matter over, and had decided 
not to go, for fear she would burn the church. 

It was too late then for me to think of getting anybody 
else, as I had but a few moments to reach the court. When 
I went in they were all there waiting. 

Mr. Woodburn was her counsel. I had no counsel, as 
Mr. Hutchinson had tailed to come back from Carson City. 

I told the judge what I had seen the day before; and 
also that the colored woman had said to me that it was 
nothing, for she often put it in the water and nearly froze 
it, and then whipped it till it was warm, to punish it. But 
I think it was the other way. She whipped it till it was all 
swelled up, and then put it into the water to take the swell- 
ing out. 

She threw her shawl over it to prevent my seeing the 
marks. 

The trial was simply a mock trial, nothing more nor less. 
They asked me where my witnesses were. I told them the 
child was witness enough for me. Examine her, and you 
will find plenty proof of my statement. 

But they did not do this, but allowed the wench to take 
the child and expose it in the most obscene manner before 
the court, and at the same time show no marks. 

This was done to mortify and confuse me ; and it being 
the first and only police court I was ever in during my life, 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 113 

it had the desired effect; for not having any counsel, I did 
not know what to do. The district attorney was there, but 
never spoke but once during the court, and that was when 
the wench went to blackguard me ; then he stopped her. 
With that one exception he might have been a wooden man 
standing there, for all the good he did. 

Mr, Woodburn tried hard to cross me by repeating his 
question. After I had answered it three times, 1 told him 
to answer it himself, if he wanted it answered. I ivoitld not. 

He was very ungentlemanly in his questions and remarks. 

" Well," said the judge to her, "take the child home. I 
guess you know how to take care of her." 

Just as he spoke, he happened to see a mark on the child's 
leg as she was adjusting its clothes. 

" How did that happen?" said he, noticing that others 
saw it, too. 

"Oh ! she fell and hurt her, or the Chinyman dun it. I 
dunno which." 

The court was now dismissed. 

I felt so bad to think that a helpless child must suffer and 
not have justice, that I could not speak. I thought if that 
was a specimen of a justice's court, I would never try an- 
other. 

I went to Mrs. Beck, but my feelings were so wrought 
up that I could not tell for some time what the matter was. 
When I did, she put on her hat and went up to the court- 
house, and asked the judge if that was the way he dealt 
out justice to the people. 

He said : " I did the best I could." 

"Well," said she, "you belong to a certain lodge with 
me, but you will not long, for I will report you there." 

" I do not care if you do," said he ; and we went back 
home, and I suppose he went out and took a drink. 

He committed suicide a few months after, and I could 
not help thinking it were better he had done it before. 



114 T^^^^ Years in Nevada. 

The child came up missing. I never could learn what be- 
came of it, although several people went there to see if 
they could see it, but could hear nothing. 

After the suit, for several nights, I heard some person 
around my house ; heard them try the door, 

I told some of my friends about it, and they advised me 
to get a house nearer my friends, for they thought it was 
black Lize, as she was commonly called on the Comstock. 

I now became afraid to stay alone in a house by myself. 
I soon found another place, but only one room. It was 
about forty feet long and very high walls. It was a very 
nice, warm room, and I took it and divided it into sections 
— a parlor, bed-room, kitchen, and a school-room. Being 
so large it answered all purposes. 

The room was next door to Judge Noyes' restaurant, and 
I became very well acquainted with the whole family, 
which consisted of a wife, one son, Walter, and two 
daughters. The eldest was my friend, Mrs. Calvin ; the 
youngest, Mrs. Dr. Seltzer, a charming little brunette 
widow. A handsome passion flower was this youngest 
daughter. Love and anger, mild and passionate, all in a 
breath, while Mrs. Calvin was always the same bright, 
sunny, joyous, laughing companion. 

She was capable of making any amount of fun. She 
was the light and life of any lodge or society to which she 
belonged. 

Her father and mother were both very much like her in 
disposition, very genial and pleasant. 

They were always very kind to me. Mrs. Noyes was a 
great reader, and every Tuesday night we used to meet at 
her parlor, and the girls and I would sew or do fancy work, 
while she would read to us, and the two children would 
play off at one end of the room. 

I spent a great many very happy evenings with them. 
We were always good friends. 



Life on tJic Pacific Coast, 1 15 

I now took some of the money I had laid up, and bought 
me a sewing-machine, for I had done all of my sewing by 
hand. I could now work much faster. 

About this time a daughter of temperance came, and 
wished to propose my name to her. lodge. I told her I 
should like very much to join, but I could not leave my 
child alone in the house for fear of tire, and I would not let 
him play in the streets while I was there. She reported 
the case to the lodge, and they applied to the grand lodge, 
and got a permit to take him in. 1 told them I would be 
responsible for him. The youngest they took in were girls 
at fourteen, and boys at sixteen. 

He was not quite ten years of age at this time, and some 
feared he might expose the secrets of the order. I do not 
think they ever regretted taking him in, for he never vio- 
lated his pledge like many of the older members did. 

He was always handy to help at our festivals, and as he 
grew older, took an active part in our evening amusements 
by giving us readings, recitations, and songs, and when the 
lodge adjourned for a time till we could get a house to suit 
us, the most of the lodge joined a new order, called the 
*' Champions of the Red Cross." 

He was the last of the order to join, because he wished 
to revive his old lodge ; but seeing there was no hope, he 
then became a very active " Champion," and we both re- 
mained such till we left there. 

While I was a member of the " Sons and Daughters of 
Temperance," I did everything in my power to build and 
keep up the lodge. I always took a very active part in 
getting up entertainments, and whenever I assumed the 
control of one, I turned over to the lodge a neat little sum. 

At one time I turned over S98, if my memory is right ; 
at another, $125 ; at another, $140, above all expenses. 

At one time I made a mammoth ring-cake. It contained 
one hundred and forty-four pieces of cake, four inches 



ii6 Ten Years in Nevada, 

thick, and one inch square. Each piece had a handsome 
ornament on the top of the heavy, white frosting. They 
were also made of white frosting, and each piece was num- 
bered. The numbers were then sold, all hoping to get the 
fortunate one containing the ring. 

The pieces sold for " lour bits " each, and very rapidly, 
some taking a half-dozen numbers. The cake was the at- 
traction that evening, for it was, indeed, a very beautiful 
cake. 

The temperance people worked very hard to get laws 
passed at the assembly by sending mammoth petitions. 

Several of the ladies of the lodge generally went around 
with a petition, each trying to get the most names. 

I used to take my paper, and go to the post-office, and 
there take names as the people came in for their mail. I 
got nearly a thousand names here. I also stood in front of 
my house, twice a day, for two weeks, and took names. I 
got fourteen hundred names in all. 

I also procured about one thousand names for the gamb- 
ling bill. This bill was to make all the proprietors of 
gambling-houses move their rooms to the second story of 
their buildings. 

One of our temperance bills was to prevent a dealer from 
selling over $5 worth of spirits to one man — if he did, he 
could not collect his bill. 

Some men were in the habit of spending their whole 
month's wages before they were due, and then when they 
got their money, they always made it a point to pay their 
liquor bills, whether their other bills were paid or not. 

Almost everybody signed this bill, for it not only bene- 
fited the man himself, but his family, and the community at 
large. 

I remained on B Street one year. While there the engine- 
house, which was two doors below me, took fire, and nearly 
consumed the house next to me. Before it was extinguished. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 1 17 

the flames reached the porch over rny door. I heard the 
bell, and throwing a shawl around me, hastened to the door, 
where the}' were rapping loudly for me to come out. I 
saw liow things were, and turning the key again, I told 
Charlie to dress with all speed, while I did the same. 

I then took hold of one end ot my trunk, he the other, 
and unlocking the door, we carried it up street out of 
harm's way. I told him to watch it, while I went back lor 
more things. I carried up my satchel, then went to pack- 
ing up my most necessary things, and had just got the bed 
down when the door opened, and in came Charlie with the 
trunk and satchel, some friend helping him, and said the 
fire was all out. 

In half an hour everything was in its place, and we were 
in bed, fast drifting into the land of dreams. 

Some time in January an old lad}' was taken sick, and 
the Rev. Mr. McGrath hired me to take care of her at $3 
per day. 

I gave my school a vacation, as I had just taught one 
year with no vacation excepting Saturday of each week, or 
the holidays. 

I took care of her two weeks, when she got better, and I 
came home. 

I intended to commence my school again on Monday, 
but a lady friend came to me and asked if I would take an- 
other patient to nurse. 

I said I would if the pay was good. She said it was. 
She said the man had been twice for her, but she could not 
go. She had told him of me. If I would go, she would 
show me the way. 

I went, and found the lady very sick. She was blind, 
and perfectly helpless. It required all my time to care for 
her. After I had been there one week, I began to feel the 
want of sleep. She became better, so that I could leave 
her with another person; but there was no one there but 



Il8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

her young daughter, a child of fourteen. She did not like 
the conhnement of a sick room ; she had rather be out to 
play. 

The lady told me to go up stairs and have a good sleep, 
and let the girl watch by her. 

I very thankfully accepted the offer, but had not lain 
down over half an hour before the girl came and said it 
was time to get up. I went down, and as soon as the lady 
heard me, she said : " Why did you get up so soon ? " 

I told her I had quite a sleep. 

When the girl came to my room the next day, she found 
the door locked. She then commenced rapping on the 
door until she awoke me. I was afraid she would disturb 
her mother, and got up and came down. Thejnext day 1 
had scarcely lain down before she came and pulled the 
clothes off me. This time 1 had no rest. I did not try it 
again, but sat up all the time, even to the end of the third 
week, when I became nearly wild for want of sleep. I 
would go about the room all night, fast asleep, making the 
fire, or giving the medicine at the usual time, just as regu- 
larly as clock-work, never knowing a thing 1 had done, 
until one day the lady said : " You must go and lie down 
earlier to-day, and get more sleep." 

She had thought I had lain down every day while she 
was asleep, for 1 had never told her or her husband about 
the girl having awaked me. I knew it would have annoyed 
her, for she was very nervous, and I would not have her 
disturbed, because the doctor had said her life depended 
on her being kept perfectly quiet. 

She said : " Do you know what you have been doing for 
the last two nights? " 

What ! said I. 

" You have been taking care of me and giving me medi- 
cine when you were sound asleep," said she. 

I was surprised, and asked her what made her think so. 



Life on the Pacific Coast, 119 

She told me of things I did at the time she first discov- 
ered it. She also spoke of my building a fire very regu- 
larly. 

I asked her if she was not afraid to take the medicine. 

" No," she replied ; " for you were punctual to a minute." 

I knew this would never do, either for her or myself. I 
now told her I could not rest good up stairs, and if she had 
no objection, I would go home for just one hour every day. 
She had none, and 1 went home after that every day, and 
soon had my sleepy spell off. 

One day the girl wished to go off and spend the day, but 
could not go until 1 had my sleep. She scolded, as girls oi 
that age will, but her mother told me to call in her father. 
I went to the hall door and looked out, in order to scare 
her to silence, for I knew her father had gone up town. 
She sprang after me, and taking hold of my shoulders, 
shook me violently, and said : " You old Irish hag ; don't 
you dare to tell my father ! " 

Well, I did not tell him for two reasons : first, because he 
was not there ; and second, because he would have given 
her a severe whipping, and this would have excited her 
poor mother. 

She never knew how much I put up with from her 
daughter during the month I staid there. 

The girl has since grown to be a )^oung lady ; and should 
she perchance read these lines, she will very readily recog- 
nize herself as the girl of fourteen, and I hope at twenty- 
two. She is very much changed for the better, for she was 
certainly a very disagreeable girl to me, while her mother 
was a perfect lady, and one of the most patient sufferers 1 
ever met with. Her father also appeared like a gentleman. 

After I went home I commenced my school again, and 
taught till the first of April. Then I moved to A Street to 
a house with four rooms. Here I fitted up two rooms to 
rent, and asked $12 apiece for them. I paid $12 for the 



120 Ten Years in Nevada. 

house. The rent of the two rooms, with my sewing 
allowed me to drop my washing and school, although I had 
not done any washing for five months before I moved, for 
I found that it was breaking me down too much, and I had 
got over $300 laid by. Besides, I had a sewing-machine that 
cost me $30. I could get plenty of sewing. The school 
confined me so much that 1 did not have a good chance to 
attend to my brother's affairs. 

I very often had a chance to watch nights with the sick 
for $3 a night, and this was more profitable than washing, 
or even the school. 

I did the washing just ten months, and taught fifteen 
months. 

Another very lucrative source of income was^baby-tend- 
ing, and it was also very pleasant, unless the baby happened 
to be a cross one — then I earned my money. But as a gen- 
eral thing, they were pretty good. 

Nearly all of my lady friends had small children, or babies, 
and all wanted me to attend theirs, and one would offer 
more than the other in order to get me to take care of hers. 
There were several rooming at one house just over the way 
from my place, and I found it very profitable to go and 
take care of them all for $3 apiece. I have had as high as 
$5 a night for taking care of one baby. 

These ladies were very fashionable, and attended all, or 
nearly all, of the parties and balls given. 

There is something every night in the week to which 
one can go, and the ladies of Virginia City are always 
ready for any amusement, and I think enjoy it more than 
any class of people among whom I ever lived. 

So it was no uncommon thing for a lady to give me $5 

for taking care of her baby, in order to be sure that no one 

else would get me before her. I have been engaged for 

two and three weeks ahead. I only did this for my friends. 

Every lady, before she went away, would set a nice little 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 12 1 

table for two, with all the luxuries of the season. The table 
would fairly groan beneath the food, some of which was 
piled on the table, enough for two of us to eat through the 
night, with a strong pot of tea to keep me awake. 

Another table would be piled full of magazines and peri- 
odicals of the day, and one or two evening papers. All I 
had to do was to undress the children, and put them to bed. 
If the little ones wanted feeding, I fed them, and perhaps 
held them awhile. 

I always took Charlie with me, as I would not leave him 
alone, and we sat and read nearly the whole time, till we 
got hungry, then we would have our little supper. Then 
Charlie would lie down and sleep till they came home, 
which was generally four or five o'clock in the morn- 
ing. 

There was more real profit in this than any work I did. 
Although nursing the sick was profitable, it was hard on 
the constitution. 

While on A Street, I took all the money and invested it 
in stock. 1 bought ChoUar stock for $52 a share, and drew 
$3 a month dividend for three months ; then $2 for three 
months more ; then $1 for two months, until at last the 
dividends stopped, and the stock dropped to $20. 

My friends advised me to sell, for fear it would go lower, 
and would lose it all ; but it was paid for, and I could afford 
to keep it, and did. 

This was in the fall. In January stocks took a big rise, 
and ChoUar went to $89. I sold. She went on up to $99, 
and I bought it back, losing $10, as my friends said. But 
two days later she went up to $320. I then sold it again. 

I had now made a handsome profit of $231 per share. I 
had also bought some Sierra Nevada for $24 the same 
week, and sold it for $44 in three da3's' time. 

I now had a snug little sum, and I determined to stop 
paying big rents by buying a place of my own, for in the 



122 Ten Years in Nevada. 

three years that I had been on the coast I had paid out just 
$400 in rents. 

I now went in search of a place to buy. I wanted one in 
a good business location, and fortune again favored me. I 
found a nice little place on C Street, which is the principal 
street of the city. 

I got it quite cheap, for property was down, and the lady 
that owned it was very anxious to get away from Virginia 
City, she having had some great sorrow there. She asked 
$500 for the place, and it was a big bargain. Although 
property was very low, I bought it, paid her the money, 
and moved the next day. 

Now, what I earned I could live on or lay up, the house- 
rent being stopped. My house had but three rooms and a 
wood-shed. I lived in it two years, when Mr. French, my 
brother's friend, offered to put up a lodging-house, with a 
store underneath, and give me time to pay for it by way of 
my rents. 

The house, he first thought, would not cost over $1,000, 
but after his partner figured on it, he said it would cost 
more, but not over $1,500, as the work upon it was to be 
done by the day. 

I gave them the job. A contract was drawn up, and they 
went to work. The house, they said, would not take them- 
over a month to finish. 

About this time I found a good, honest lawyer. His 
name was F. V. Drake, of Virginia City. I had become 
acquainted with him and his wife at Judge Noyes' house. 
He took, up my case, and got out my papers of administra- 
tion for me, and charged me only for recording them. But 
after he had them recorded, he either was too busy or, like 
the other lawyers, thought there was nothing in it, and so 
gave up doing anything about it. 

It rested in this way for a year, but it did not matter 
now, as the papers were out. I could wait till I got a 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 125 

chance to sell before I moved any further in the matter. 
During the first winter I was on the place, Charlie took 
quite sick, from fall till spring, with whooping-cough, and 
was nothing but a shadow. He was nearly starved to 
death, for nothing would stay on his stomach. In Mav it 
left him, and he had scarcely got over it and was picking 
up. when he came down with the measles. He was very 
sick, as he always is when he is complaining. I now gave 
him all my time, for I knew the disease I had to deal with. It 
generally left some bad effect, such as blindness, deafness, 
defect in speech, lung difficulty, and often a broken consti- 
tution. But fortunately he recovered, after eleven days, 
with none of these symptoms, and began to flesh up again. 
This was in June. 

In July there was a vacation in school, for I had sent him. 
steady to the public school ever since I quit teaching. 

He asked me one day if he could not go with one of his 
mates to his father's stone-quarry, about three miles off. I 
told him he might go, but to lift no stone, for he was not 
old enough or stout enough. He was in his twelfth year. 

He started off about seven o'clock in high spirits. As 
soon as Mr. Gault reached his quarry he commenced load- 
ing, and while he was placing a big stone in the front of his 
wagon, the boys rolled up another, and Charlie got upon 
the wagon to steady it, and stood with one foot on the plank,, 
while the other was on the wagon. When Mr. Gault rolled 
the stone he had in place in the front, it jarred the plank 
off, and Charlie went with it. The stone he was holding 
rolled off on his left arm, breaking it above the elbow. 

Mr. Gault placed him in the back of the wagon, his feet 
hanging off, and his son sitting by him and supporting him 
in his arms till they drove back to town. 

He then asked Charlie where he had rather go, whether 
to his home or to some office, to have his arm set. 

Charlie said : " I would like to go to your house and have 



124 Ten Years in Nevada. 

a doctor come there, for I want it set before my mother 
hears of it, for she will faint if she sees it in this way." 

So Mr. Gault took him to his house, and sent for Dr. 
Green, who set the arm all right ; but being a man who 
drank, I was afraid to trust him, and called in another doc- 
tor as soon as I got him home. 

After it was all set they sent for me. Mr. Holland broke 
the news very gently to me, and I went immediately to his 
sister's, Mrs. Gault, and there found Charlie lying on the 
sofa looking very pale, but otherwise enjoying himself with 
a dainty little dinner, and one of the boys feeding him. He 
looked up and smiled, and said : " Don't worry, mamma, I 
shall be all right in a day or two." 

They told me he stood the setting like a hero, never 
shedding a tear. 

I did not move him till sundown, and then I had Dr. 
White come and look at it. He said it was all right. He 
dressed it after this several times, and then I took charge 
of it myself. 

Dr. Green charged $50, and Dr. White $25 ; but when 
Dr. Green learned that I was a widow, he only charged me 
$25. So it only cost me $50. But that was a good sum to 
be earned by the needle, for I only had one room to rent ; 
besides, he was laid up so long that I had to give him most 
of my time for two weeks. He then sat up after that, and 
could amuse himself reading ; and it was some time in 
August before I could do an}^ sewing. 

A good share of the summer had been spent nursing him 
in all his sickness. I sat up eight nights with him when he 
had the measles, and also eleven nights with him when his 
arm was broken, for he is naturally restless, and I was 
afraid he would get it out of place. 

My friends thought 1 got off cheap for $50, for they said 
a broken bone costs from $75 to $100. But my friend, Mrs. 
Beck, was at the bottom of this good fortune. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 125 

Among the many friends I had made was Mr. and Mrs. 
Charles Rawson. He held the office of county recorder 
for several years, and I had the records searched several 
times while there, I also had several documents recorded, 
and he would never take a cent. 

I thought it very strange, and one day while talking 
with a lady, she said : " He never charges widows any- 
thing." 

I thought this showed a very noble disposition. His 
wife was all that was good, being generous and noble, and 
I always found her a good, kind friend. A brother and sis- 
ter could not have taken more interest in my affairs than 
they always did, and I can never think of them now, though 
I am so far away, without asking God's blessing on their 
heads, for I think a great deal of them both, and love her 
very dearly. 

Whenever myself or boy was sick, she was sure to send 
us any delicacy she thought would tempt our appetite. 
She gave me a great deal ol sewing, and never would 
.'illow me to name my price, because she thought I did not 
charge enough. She would always pay a good, round 
price, and often give the pay in advance, for fear I might 
want the money to use ; and not unfrequently did a present 
of some kind accompany the work — sometimes a fat chicken, 
or something else. 

She told me one day to send Charlie up sometimes, as 
she had something for him. He went, and she gave him 
three hens and a rooster. He thought he was quite a farmer. 
His hens laid every day till they had quite a quantity of 
eggs, and then went to setting. He took all but fifteen 
from each nest, and, strange to say, they brought out forty- 
five chickens ; and when these chickens were two months' 
old, they commenced laying again, and set them the second 
time. He had over ninety chickens, but a great many of 
them got run over, so we had not more than seventy left. 



126 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I sold some for $i apiece, and killed all we wanted for our- 
selves, and wintered twenty-seven hens. 

In Nevada and California hens commence laying at the 
age of six months. Eggs freshly laid are $i per dozen. I 
never sold any less than that. But I had not kept my hens 
<Dver three years before I built my new house, and after that 
I could not get any eggs, for somebody got them all. One 
night I lost fifteen hens. I then concluded to kill them off, 
and did so. 

You Eastern people, with your 6 and 8-cent eggs, may 
think my dollar eggs a fish story. Nevertheless, it is true, 
for the people of Virginia City are able to eat dollar eggs, 
although they can buy them down as low as 25 cents, if 
they are cracked. So they won't keep longer than one 
or two days, and that is a big price with you for winter 

When 1 first went to housekeeping, the prices were so 
astonishingly high that I could not believe my own ears. 
When I heard the merchants tell their prices, I used to pass 
on to something else and inquire the price of that, and after 
a little while go back and ask the price of the same article, 
in order to see if I had heard aright, for I could not believe 
I had. 

The reader must not think that because four years had 
passed before I got a lawyer, that it did not cost me any- 
thing to hunt one, for more than twenty took the case, and, 
after investigating it a few days, gave it up. Many of them 
said I was welcome to what they had done, and some charg- 
ing from $1 up to $5 for their trouble. 

This counted up in time. I paid a small sum for record- 
ing papers, and searching records in different places, and 
after Mr. Rawson went out of office I did not find another 
like him in Virginia City. I also had some stage fare, for I 
was not always able to walk, and sometimes the place was 
too far off. 



Life on the Pacific Coast, 127 

You may wonder, if I made so much money sewing, 
what I did with it ; also the balance of my money after 
paying for my place. You see a good deal went that way. 
Then I had taxes — both city and county. I had also little 
bills for sidewalks, sewers, and street-cleaning brought in, 
it seemed to me, every day. I also had a mortgage of $300 
to pay the interest on in the States. 

I used to send the money to my father, who paid it for 
mc. I put some of the money back in stock again, on some 
of which I made double, and on some I lost all. So it was 
an even thing. 

My son, who was now the age of thirteen, carried the 
Evening CJironiclc, and also had routes of his own, and at- 
tended to them all after school. He made about $15 per 
month, but this barely kept him in clothes. 

I think a person wears out clothes as fast again in this 
counti-y as in the East, especially shoes and boots. The 
alkali seems to rot everything. 

Speaking of clothes reminds me of buying a suit of 
clothes for my son at a Jew clothing store. They were 
recommended to me as a tiptop suit, but were all falling to 
pieces inside of a month. I was obliged to get him a new 
suit, and called at the same store and showed the man the 
clothes. 

" Well, didn't I tole you so? " said he. 

No, said I ; you said they were a tiptop suit. 

" So they were. I took them right of from the top here," 
laying his hand on a pile of clothes. 

That won't do, said I ; you recommended them to me for 
a good suit. 

" Oh, no ; you was mistaken. I tole you they were the 
poorest in the pile. Now just let me sell you another suit, 
and I tells you what I do. I gives you this suit worth $35 
for S30 — coat, pants, vest, and suspenders." 

No ; I do not want them at that price. 



128 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" Well, I throws in a box of collars and a neck-tie." 

No ; I do not think I will take them. And I started to j;o. 

" Hold on," said he ; "I will throw in a handkerchief and 
a pair of socks." 

No, said I, going towards the door. 

" Stop ! " said he. " I makes you another offer. I lets 
you have all these things for $25." 

I do not want them. And this time I reached the side- 
walk; but he ran after me, and said : " I puts you in a nice 
hat, the latest style, worth $3. Just come in back, and 
see it." 

I wanted the clothes, but wanted them low enough to 
make up for the loss on the other suit. So I went back, 
and after I had looked the things over, he said:^ "Now, I 
gives you the whole d — d lot for $25, and not a cent less. 
What will you give ? " 

I will give $20, and not a cent more, said I. 

" No ! " said he. And he commenced putting the things 
away. 

All right, said 1, putting up my money and starting for 
the door. 

This was more than he could well stand. 

" Take them ; but I would not let anyone else in the city 
have them for that price but Charlie, And I tells you 
what — you have got a suit that will wear." 

How long? said I. 

"Will you try them and see? And Charlie, when you 
want another suit, come back, and I lets you have them 
cheap as any man," 

" I will, if these prove to be good," said Charlie. 

They proved to be the best suit to wear I ever saw, for 
he outgrew them without ever wearing a hole in them. 

This reminds me of the second winter we were in Vir- 
ginia City. His Sabbath-school teacher, Mrs. Winters^ 
made him a present of a nice suit of clothes. They were 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 129 

given her by some merchant who refused money for the 
Christmas-tree, but said he would give her a nice suit for 
the best boy in her class. 

This kind-hearted lady came to me before Christmas-day 
and asked me if I would be offended if she gave Charlie a 
nice suit of clothes. 

I told her that instead of being offended I should be 
proud to think he had been selected as being her best 
scholar, and worthy of them. Besides this present, he had 
fourteen other presents on the Christmas-tree. 

He was always very fortunate in getting Christmas pres- 
ents as well as myself, for I generally got two dresses, and 
a host of small presents every year. 

I always got one dress from Charlie every Christmas. 
Since he was nine years old he always laid by enough of 
his pocket money to buy his mother a dress, and he always 
showed good taste in selecting handsome ones. 

Next to my bo3''s present, I thought most of my big fat 
turkey my cousin always brought me ; for it seemed like 
getting it from home to get it from him. He always re- 
membered me on Thanksgiving and New Year's days of 
each year. 

The grocery men sometimes remembered me with a 
turkey. It seemed to be the custom thei^e for grocery 
merchants to treat their customers to a turkey on some 
of the holidays. 

Charlie was very fortunate at his birthday parties in 
getting nice presents. He has a very handsome solid 
silver napkin-ring, which was presented to him, at one of 
his parties, by his friend, Sammie Calvin ; and at nearly 
every party he got a nice china-cup and saucer, till he had 
a set of twelve. He frequently had three or four very nice 
handkerchiefs given him by the girls and bovs, and some 
brought half a dozen. One little girl brought him a hand- 
kerchief-box and a dozen handkerchiefs in it — all very nice. 



130 Ten Years in Nevada. 

When Charlie was about twelve years of age the boys 
and girls commenced a series of surprise parties, and he 
was generally the ringleader in getting them up. His tak- 
ing so much interest in them pleased both the girls and 
boys, and he became a sort of favorite with all. 

I do not think he had an enemy in Virginia City and 
Gold Hill ; but on the contrary, he had many warm friends, 
both among the old and the young. 

I once heard a gentleman say he was the only boy in the 
place that had treated him with respect, and never said a 
saucy word to him. 

I always taught him to treat everybody with respect, and 
show no difference between the rich and poor. I never 
taught him to respect a person according to the length of 
his purse, or the ostrich feathers in his hat, or the quantity 
of silk with which she could mop the tobacco juice from 
the sidewalks; and I think he would as soon dance with a 
respectable girl in a neatly-made calico dress, as one sup- 
porting a silk, for which she had paid from $20 to $40 for 
making, which sum many of the ladies of Virginia City do 
pay for the making of their dresses. The}' often pay twice 
as much for making as the material costs them. A common 
calico dress costs from $5 to $8 for making. 

I remember of making three calico suits for one woman 
for $8 apiece — $24 for the three — and the cloth and trim- 
mings for the three only cost $10. 

I never lived in a place where the people dressed more 
richly or more extravagantly than in Virginia City. It is 
not only a few millionaires who indulge in it, but every 
woman on the Comstock who has a husband earning $4 or 
$6 a day, up to the superintendent, who gets his $500 or 
$1,000 a month, as some of them do who have two or three 
mines to look after. And many families live up to every 
cent of their wages or salary. 

Some of my friends were very extravagant, and I used 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 131 

often tell them so, and in return they would call me a 
miser, because I would not follow all of the silly fashions. 

I do not wish the reader to think we quarreled, for we 
were only bantering or joking. 

Mrs. Calvin often laughed at me, and said: "If you 
would go down in that old stocking, and get out some of 
the gold you have hoarded up, and put it on your back in 
fine clothes, you would stand some show to get a rich hus- 
band, for they would know then that you did have some- 
thing ; and now they don't know you are worth any- 
thing." 

I would tell her I was not in the market, for I had deter- 
mined never to bring a stepfather over my child, no matter 
how good he might be. 1 told her that if I ever married, it 
would be after my boy had grown to be a man, and then it 
would not be a fortune-hunter, but a uiaii 1 could respect. 

I do believe that if I could have married every man that 
she and Mrs. Beck picked out and tried to make a match 
with for me, I would have had as many husbands as old 
Brigham Young ever had wives. 

They finally gave up all hopes of ever dancing at my 
wedding, although both offered to be bridesmaids, and fur- 
nish the wedding supper. But I told them all that I had 
too much business on hand to get married. I thought of 
going back to old New York before I would think of such 
a thing, for I did not intend that anything should prevent 
me from accomplishing the business that took me to Nevada. 

I do not wish the reader to think I went shabbily dressed, 
for I did not. I never bought needless finery, as 1 had 
other uses for my money ; besides, I never believed in dress- 
ing to catch a husband. I think this is'one reason of so many 
divorces in California and Nevada. The ladies dress so 
rich and gaudy, and use so much paint and powder, that 
they are really not themselves when dressed for church or 
ball, or for the street, but only painted dolls, dressed in silks 



132 Ten Years in Nevada. 

and satins, decorated with expensive jewelry, and, as Brother 
McGrath used to say, wearing a whole flower garden on 
the top of their heads. 

Admirers of beauty think they are genuine, fall desper- 
ately in love, and marry them. After awhile the ladies be- 
come careless of home dress. Their market is made, and 
they can afford to leave off the paint except when going 
out. 

The fond husband, coming in from his office, or other 
business place, finds his wife, who has been up half of the 
night, and spent the forenoon in bed to make up for lost 
time, lounging in an easy chair, her hair in papers for an- 
other ball, her face minus both paint and , powder ; she is 
dressed in some old slouchy wrapper, reading ^ome peri- 
odical, and oh, horrors ! he discovers his supposed beauty 
to be a pale, sallow-looking, freckle-faced woman, not even 
ordinary-looking in many cases. 

The scales fall from his eyes. He now discovers that 
"All is not gold that glitters" — not even in Nevada and 
California. 

He becomes disenchanted ; he sees many faults now 
which beauty concealed before. He finds she is not lit 
for the mistress of a house ; she does not know how to 
work, nor even how to order it done. He must keep help 
at $40 a month, in order that this sham beauty may have 
time to dress. 

He becomes tired and indifferent to his artificial wife, 
and the first thing you see in the papers is an application 
for a divorce, either from one side or the other. It makes 
no difference who is to blame ; the one who applies first 
gets the divorce, and often the defendant does not appear 
against the plaintiff. 

There is hardly a week but there is an application for a 
divorce. Virginia City is truly the city of divorces, and 
the cause I have just stated is one great reason for it. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 133 

Another is, men are apt to neglect their wives for busi- 
ness. They leave their wives to the society of other men. 
They are running wild over stocks, while other men are 
playing the " agreeable " to their wives, and finally run 
away with them. 

The husband then discovers his mistake; but, alas ! too 
late ; his bird has flown. 

He then applies for a divorce, or. taking the law into his 
own hands, follows the man who has destroyed his happi- 
ness, and blows out his brains. 1 have heard of such cases 
in both Nevada and California. Often two lives are lost 
instead of one. But in the best circles it is settled by a di- 
vorce, and perhaps before three months have passed, each 
one has secured another partner, and they will both meet 
at the same ball, and dance in the same set as friendly as 
though they had never had any trouble ; and you would 
never imagine they had been man and wife. 

Now, reader, I am not handsome, and am conscious of 
the deficiency, yet I flatter myself that I am not ugly-look- 
ing, and have even been told by an admirer that I was 
passably good-looking. 

I used to tell a lady friend, w'hen conversing with her on 
th-e subject of matrimony, that if a man could not admire 
me for myself alone, he should not be deceived by fine 
clothes and paint. 

Now, Mrs. Reader, don't you go to thinking I never had 
an offer, for I have had several, one being from a merchant. 
Now see how business-like he popped the question. He 
came to bring me some goods. As he stood in the door, 
looking around, he said : " Do you own this place ? " 

I replied that I did. 

He said : " It is a fine little property." He stood a mo- 
ment as if in deep thought, and then turning to me, said: 
" I wish the Lord you would marry me. I have got four 
or five children, and I have not time to take care of them. 



134 '^'-''^ Years in Nevada. 

I want a good, smart woman to bring them up — some one 
that will be kind to them." 

I told him if that was the case, he had better get some 
one else, for I would not do for a stepmother. I was afraid 
I should abuse them. 

" I guess not," he said. " I have heard you were just 
splendid — humor Charlie to death. Now, I want just such 
a woman for my children." 

Oh ! yes ; I am pretty good to Charlie ; he is my own, 
you know ; but I dislike other children, and would be apt 
to be a cross stepmother. 

" Well, you won't do for me, then, for I won't have my 
children abused by any woman. But I don't believe a word 
you say. I guess you are only gasing." 

I had done a great deal of trading with this gentleman, 
and always got goods cheaper than at any other place. But 
the first time I called there after the above conversation, I 
found he had raised on his prices. I suppose he did not in- 
tend to sell cheaper than his neighbor, with no prospects of 
a wife. 

Well, who blames him ? Not I. 

Another offer, or almost one, was from a young English- 
man. It was the first winter I lived in Virginia City. I 
had but a short acquaintance, having done some sewing for 
him. He was rather good-looking, and was bigoted enough 
to think he could get any woman to marr}^ him by asking her. 

He called one evening, and said : " Why didn't you tell 
me when you moved ? I have been looking for you for the 
last six weeks." 

I told him that I did not think it necessary to give an ac- 
count of myself to anyone. 

" Well, I have some very important business I wish to 
see you about." 

I was quite surprised, and waited to hear what he had 
to say. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 135 

After a little hesitation, he said : " Well, I am on the 
marry." (That was the old country way of speaking.) " I 
think I know a lady that suits me." 

Well, why do you not go and ask her .^ I do not see that 
1 can assist you, for I never break nor make matches. 

He laughed at me, and said : " Let me tell you what kind 
of a woman I want. She must be an American, and good- 
looking; one that knows how to do all kinds of work; one 
that can keep her own house, for I can't afford to pay $40 a 
month for help." 

Get a Chinaman for $15, said I. 

" I don't want any filthy Chinaman in mine. I don't care 
for a young girl ; I would sooner have a widow about 
twenty-five or thirty." 

I now began to see which way he was drifting. 

I said : Would you, indeed ? What a pity I am not fifteen 
years younger. I might stand some chance ! 

" How old are you ? " said he, as though I were in duty 
bound to tell him. 

Oil! too old for you, altogether — lortv-five. 

" I don't believe a word of it. I took you to be about 
twent3'-five." 

Well, you see appearances are often deceitful, said I. 

" F-o-r-t-y-fi-v-e ! " said he. 

Yes, said I. 

" 'Pon honor? " said he. 

Yes, honor bright, I replied. 

" Well, that settles it," said he, reaching tor his hat; "I 
don't mind marrying a woman about my own age, but I 
don't want one quite so old. Good evening ! " 

And this did settle it, for he never called again. 

Remember, reader, I only said forty -five. I did not say 
years. 

Another man came and took a room at my house for a 
month. After he had been there a week, he came one day 



136 Ten Years in Nevada. 

and rapped at the sitting-room door. I opened it, thinking, 
perhaps, he had called for something I had left out of his 
room, and stood waiting to see what it was; and to my 
astonishment he came in and sat down, and asked me if I 
owned the place. I said I did. 

" I heard so," said he. 

I expected the next question would be, Do you want to 
sell? But no such question came. His next words were: 
" Well, you want to get some nice man to take care of it 
for you. I heard you were a widow, and came and took a 
room on purpose to get acquainted with you." 

Well, sir, said I, I am afraid you will have your labor for 
your pains. I made this property, and I think I can take 
care of it without the assistance of any man. ^ood-day, 
sir! said I, holding the door open for him. 

The next day he called and paid me my week's rent. 

He had his trunk by the handle dragging it along. 

Are you moving ? said I. 

" Yes ; I am off." 

I thought you wanted the room for a month. 

" Well, I did ; but you know I have been terribly disap- 
pointed." 

Indeed ! said I. Perhaps you will have better success 
the next time you go fortune-hunting. 

This is about the way one-third of the people of the coast 
propose and are accepted. This is the reason w^hy their 
honeymoons end in a divorce. It is no trouble for a woman 
in any class ot society to get married, especially if she is 
from the East. 

She stands ten chances to one against a native Nevadan, 
for the most of them know nothing about work. Their 
parents give them a good education, fit them for teaching, 
and then dress them to make good matches. A good match 
with them means a rrian with money. 

Now, this is a very foolish thing, for they may marry a 



Life on the Paeific Coast. '37 

millionaire to-day, and in six months they will be the wife 
of a poor man. Ask them how it happened, and the answej^ 
will be, dealing in stocks, or gambling — as often one as the 
other. 

The schools of Nevada are a grand success. They be- 
lieve in a good education, and they employ good teachers ; 
giving them good wages. The}* also have line buildings 
and grounds. The Fourth Ward school-house is the finest 
school building in Virginia City. It is five or six stories 
h'gh. It is built both of brick and wood. Its rooms are 
all large and airy, nicely ornamented with pictures and en- 
gravings, and pots of flowers decorate nearly every window. 
The house is kept in perfect order by the janitor. It is 
situated on C Street, nearly opposite my house. 

Parents take a great deal of interest in visiting the schools. 
Their exhibitions and public examinations are ver}' fine, 
and well conducted. Professor Flint, a New Yorker, pre- 
sided over the High School of Virginia City for several 
years. He is one of the Board of Education at the present 
time, and is well liked by all. He is famous for getting up 
spelling classes, and giving premiums to the best spellers. 
The premiums are from $5 to $25. All who choose can join 
the class by giving 50 cents admission fee. Lawyers, doc- 
tors, and all the business men of the place generally join, 
but the scholars always win the prizes. 

My friend's only son, a very fine young man, and highly 
educated, generally attends these spelling matches, and 
whenever he does, he always wins the prize. Her eldest 
daughter has also received a fine education, and is a highly 
educated young lady. Miss Ida, aged ten years, is her 
youngest, and a family pet, and I trust she will make as 
good a woman as her mother. 

The wages of teachers are from S60 to §125 per month ; 
but when I first went to Nevada, they were much higher 
than at the present day. In California they are still lower. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Finishing the House and- Furnishing it — The Settlement with the Builders — 
Lodging-House Trials — The New Law Firm — The Big Fire — Sale of a 
Mine — Trouble of Getting My Pay. 

tHE reader will remember that somewhere in the first 
of the last chapter I commenced building. I will now 
show how we progressed and finished it. 

Instead of its being finished in a month, as they agreed 
to, they were three months building it, and it was not yet 
done. 

I got them to give up the contract, and finished it myself. 

But they had finished off the store and all the upper part 
of the house, save the lining and papering, which 1 did 
myself. 

As fast as I got a room papered, I furnished and rented 
it, until the whole house was full. 

Then I went down stairs, and did the same to the private 
part of the house, and got it ready to move into myself, for 
I was then living in my small house, which was moved on 
the back part of my lot at the time they first commenced 
working on the place to grade out for the house. 

I was lying very sick with inflammation of the lungs. 1 
was quite low tor several days, and was so nearly gone one 
day that they called in the neighbors to see me die. I was 
choking, gasping for breath. One ran against the other, 
not knowing what to do. I could not speak. But Charlie 
saw me looking towards the table. He looked to see what 
it was I wanted. A bottle of camphor and hartshorn lini- 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 139 

ment stood there. His senses came to him at once, and he 
caught it up and emptied a third of its contents on my 
lungs, took his hand and_ rubbed it into my kmgs, till I 
breathed as natural as ever. 

I relate this little incident to let people who are attacked 
with this complaint know what to do. 1 had been using it 
all the time ; but when I was taken so bad I had been asleep, 
and the girl went through the room, and left both doors 
open, and this left me in a draught, and I awoke up so bad I 
could not speak ; but for my boy's quickness in reading my 
thoughts, I must have died. But I soon got better, and 
sat up. 

They now told me they were ready to move the house ; 
if I would go into one ol the neighbors, thev would move it. 

In about three hours I did so, and in fifteen minutes a 
man came and told me they had commenced moving it, and 
found they could not, and they were setting the things on 
the sidewalk, or any place they could find to set them, and 
that the Piutes and Chinamen were packing them off. 

My boy was off to school, and there was no other way 
but for me to go to work and take the things uf) to the top 
of Silver Street to B Street, and pack them in the house of 
a friend ; and they were three days putting up the house 
again. 

As soon as they got it up, 1 had to go and line and paper 
it before I could move into it. This took me two days 
more ; and when I got settled, I found that many of my 
things had been carried off. 

I lived here while they were building the new house, then 
I moved in, and rented the little one for $25 a month. 

I rented the stores for good prices, and my house was 
full at good rents. 

I had agreed to pay $125 a month on the house. When 
they gave up the house, the bill was over $3,000 and the 
bulkhead was not built, wor the sewer dug. I also had to 



140 Ten Years in Nevada. 

pay for all the water pipes being put in, and for the pipes 
on the outside of the house, which cost me an enormous 
sum. There was no brick chimney in it. 

This was a way they had of building on the Comstock — 
a way I did not like. And after the big fire, 1 had two nice 
brick chimneys built from the ground to the top of the 
house, after my pipes had cost about $75, for 1 was con- 
stantly having them repaired. They never put them up 
substantially, and every wind blew them down. 

I have two receipts in my possession now to show that I 
paid $25 at one time and $15 at another^both storms 
occurring in the same month — making $40 a month for 
pipes. I thought this a pretty heavy tax just for chimneys, 
when a brick one would only cost $60. 

I had $125 to make out every month, besides these extra 
bills to pay. My paper and lining came to nearly $360, and 
then I had all the paint for the inside of the house to paj- 
for. I hired a man to do some of the painting, and some of 
it my son did. 

The most — or at least half — of my furniture I paid for in 
making ticks at " four bits " and " two bits " apiece. The 
top mattresses were "four bits," while the straw ticks were 
but " two bits." 

Perhaps the reader would like to know how I managed 
to do it, tor I had twenty-six beds to make up, and rooms 
to take care of, and all the washing and ironing to do. 
Well, I can tell you, it was pretty hard. I got up early. 
While many of my neighbors were sleeping, I was doing 
up the work of those roomers who had gone to work on 
the six o'clock shift. If it was Monday, I would pick up 
all of the dirty clothes together, then I would come down 
and get mv breakfast, do up the dishes, and then sit down 
and make four or five ticks before dinner-time. After din- 
ner I did up the rest of my work up stairs ; then, as some 
ot my roomers used to say, I would sit down and make 



Life on the Pacific Coast, 141 

halt a dozen more ticks, just to rest myself, and after sup- 
per would make another half-dozen ticks, sheets, or pillow- 
slips, just as it happened. 

I took one day to washing' and ironing. And this was no 
small job, 1 assure you, for most of the roomers had to 
have both sheets taken off the bed every week, and three 
towels each week to every person. 

There were repairs constantly to be made, but I managed 
to keep up with the whole of it by working nearly every 
night till twelve and one o'clock. 

You may think I might have hired a girl. I will simply 
say I could not afford to pay from $35 to $40 per month for 
a girl when I had to pay $125 on my house, besides making 
payments on other bills. It cost me something like $1,700 
to furnish my house, and then I had always had another 
bill of expense ever since I bought my place and kept 
roomers. 

I had boarded and lodged a girl or woman just for fear 
of the public opinion, as I did not wish to be talked about 
as many women were who kept lodgers for a living, who, I 
really believe, were better than those who talked about 
them. 

Now, this was pretty hard on me. Board was $1 a day 
without lodging, and they had to have a bed to themselves^ 
for I could not work hard all day and sleep with an old or 
sick person. One of the parties who staid with me, more or 
less, for four years was both old and sick. 

The other party was a girl about my own age, but she 
did not keep her room to suit me. So their room, as well 
as their board, was a dead loss to me. 

The old lady was naturally very smart, and when able ta 
do anything, went out to sewing. Her name was Garbit. 

When not able to work, she staid at home, but always 
wanted to do something. She was scrupulously neat, and 
often helped me if I was sick ; but at other times I would 



142 Ten Years in Nevada. 

not let her, as I did not think she was able. Sometimes she 
boarded herself. She did so most of the last 3'ear that she 
had a room by herself at my house. I liked her very much. 
But the girl, when she was there, hardly ever lifted her 
hand, but sat with her feet in the stove from morning till 
night — always in the way. 

At one time I had four women rooming in the house, and 
thought I might get rid of her for a spell, as I had no place 
for her to sleep, unless I gave up my bed to her, and slept 
on a sofa, for she said she would not sleep there. Besides, 
she was always quarreling with the roomers if they came 
to the kitchen after water, and left the door open, and all 
the talking I could do would not change her course. So 
one day I told her I thought of marrying one of my room- 
ers whom she was in the habit of scolding. 

" Well," said she, "if that is so, I won't stay another day." 
And she packed up her things and went away, and got a 
place to work, thinking to spite me. 

My friends had quite a laugh over this. 

She was gone a year when, one day, she came in crying, 
and said she had no home to go to, and I happened to have 
an empty room. I told her she could stay, but she must 
not meddle with the roomers again. 

She did not for a period of three months, after which she 
was as bad as ever. 

One day I spoke to her, when she said : " I am not afraid 
of your turning me out. You can't fool me with another 
story about getting married, for I know you have no notion 
of it." 

She was now determined to get rid of two of my lady 
roomers, one of whom had been in the house over two 
)^ears, and had also roomed with me on A Street, and 
moved to C Street with me when I hrst bought — one of 
the kindest-hearted little women I ever met. She had 
always stood over me like a sister when sick. And now 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 143 

this girl was determined to drive her out of the house. I 
told her she might pack her things and take them away on 
Monday. This was Sunday. 

I said that I never stooped to quarrel, and I wouldn't 
have it in my house. 

But Monday came, and she went off. I put her things on 
the porch, and locked the door. When she found it out, 
she came and took them away. 

This was but two months before I came home. I had 
given her a home, at different times, for five years. But if 
1 had it to do over again, I would board no person just for 
the speech of people. 

My minister said to me one day, when I was telling him 
how hard it was to have to board and lodge one person for 
nothing, in order to keep from being talked about [iov I 
always regarded my character as the apple of my eye): 
" Let them talk ; they do not buy your bread and butter. 
Do what conscience tells you is right, and let them talk if 
they choose." 

I have firmly made up my mind, if ever placed in similar 
circumstances again, to act on his advice, and would have 
done so before, perhaps, onl)- I did not think it would be 
quite right to get her to stay when I had no other woman 
in the house, and then send her off as soon as I did have 
one. 

And another great reason for not sending her off was be- 
cause I had entered into a solemn compact with my Maker, 
that if I prospered in my business, 1 would never turn the 
needy from my door. I kept it very sacredlv, unless this 
one act might be called breaking my vow. 

I only mention this to show the reader the many ways I 
had for using money, for you see that to board one person 
a year was equal to giving S365 a year. 

Th-e first year I paid the parties that built the house 
$1,400. 



144 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Rents now went down, and times became so dull that 
men quit rooming and went to "cabining" themselves in 
every old cabin they could find. And roomers were so 
scarce that it was hard work to keep my house full. Yet I 
managed to make the payment every month. 

About this time 1 received the sad news of my sister's 
poor health, and I determined to go home and see her. But 
in order to do this I would have to raise the money on a 
mortgage. 

This I could not do, according to my contract, without 
first paying for my house in full. 

I now went to an old friend, who belonged in the lodge 
with me. He advised me to go to the Virginia City Sav- 
ings Bank and obtain a loan of money enough to p^iy them 
off and go home with. 

I went and obtained a loan of $2,aoo, and when I came to 
pay them off, I found that, instead of owing them $i,6oo, 
Mr. French's partner had gone and taken out more insur- 
ance policies on the house, and forged my name in doing 
so, or got some person to do it for him. At any rate, my 
name was signed to them. I told him it was forgery, but 
he only laughed, until Mr. French told him he had burned 
his fingers, when he looked rather serious. 

The insurance cost over $50, I believe ; but I was so in- 
dignant that I canceled the papers at the insurance ofifice, 
and got back $8. 

He was so greedy that he had got ahead of himself ; for 
if the house had burned, neither he nor I would have got 
anything, for he had taken out $500 more than the first 
policy. Now, this was against the rules of all insurance 
companies. If you take out more insurance, you are bound 
to let both companies know it, and he had failed to let my 
insurance agent know anything about it. After 1 had got 
this all straight, I found he had deeded my place away to a 
man from whom he had borrowed money. The deed had 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 145 

not been recorded. I could not see the need ol its being 
recorded as long as it was given up. But, to suit the 
bank people, I had to get the deed recorded, and then make 
him give me a deed, and have it recorded also, each deed 
costing me $3 to get it recorded, and $5 for the one I had 
made. After drawing up a mortgage and note, and paying 
S25 to have them recorded, and had finished settling up 
with them all, I had just $45 left. 

Of course I could not go home on $45, so I inclosed $40 
of it in a letter, and sent it to my dear sister, hoping it 
would reach its destination in time for her to know I had 
not forgotten her, although I had not the means to come to 
her, much as I knew she wanted to see me. Although sep- 
arated from her so many years, my heart was ever with 
her and my dear affectionate parents, from whom I had 
been separated so long, hoping, wishing, praying I might 
soon meet them, especially my invalid sister and mother. 



TO MY MOTHER. 

In all this world I cannot find 

One half so dear, or half so kind 

As thou hast been to me ; 

My dearest mother, I speak of thee. 

And though in different climes I roam, 

Far distant from my native home, 

Thy kindness ne'er shall forgotten be, 

Still, dearest mother, I'll think of thee. 

Think who, when an infant, fed 

And supported in her arms my tender head, 

Imparted to me a parent's love, 

And led my thoughts to God above. 

Oh ! sweet mem'ries of childhood days, 

Ye taught me of the lowly Jesus, 

In gratitude my prayers to raise, 

For the sins from which he saved us. 

But now these days with thee are o'er. 

Still to thy cares are added more. 



146 Ten Years in Nevada. 

For then no danger was I in 

Of being led in the paths of sin. 

I love you mother ; it is true; 

How ardent is unknown to you. 

My love, the same was blind to me, 

Until your form I could no longer see; 

But when thee, like time, shall wear away, 

Shall thy lessons prove fruitless, say ? 

Not so ; ingratitude can never rest 

Where true honor erects her throne within the breast. 

These lines, written at the age of fifteen, while in Ober- 
lin, Ohio, at school, were recalled to mind in my hours of 
trial and desolation. 

I became more convinced than ever that a child can 
never truly appreciate a parent's love or the many respon- 
sibilities resting upon them, or even know the strength of 
their own love, until separated from them by land and sea. 

I had made great calculation on visiting home and the 
dear ones, and had pictured the happy event of our re- 
union ; but now my cup of bliss was dashed aside. Despair 
took the place of hope, and I could not help sitting down 
and crying over my bitter disappointment. 

I expected to have only $400 left. Of course I could 
have had Mr. French's partner arrested, but I was not able 
to pay a lawyer more than I could get back just for the 
sake of satisfaction ; that would never do. And the guilty 
went unpunished. Besides, I did not wish to make Mr. 
French suffer for his partner's fault. 

I now had the interest on the $2,000 to pay, the city and 
county taxes to pay, and a tax on the mortgage, besides 
other incidental expenses on the place ; but the year of the 
big fire the taxes were very high. 

That summer everything had been so dull that there 
seemed to be no money in town, and I saw some very hard 
times, and probably would have seen much harder had it 
not been for two very kind friends. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 147 

The Hon. C. C. Stevenson and E. W. Watkins, both of 
home, came to my aid, lending me large sums of money 
until such times as I could pay them. Both these gen- 
tlemen were strong temperance men, and belonged to the 
same lodge with me. 

Brother Stevenson has done more for the temperance 
cause than any other man on the coast. 

Mr. Watkins was also a very active member. 

Although I received loans from these friends, it was still 
very hard for me to get along and meet all my expenses, 
for I had my house full of unpaying roomers, who expected 
to get work, and would then pay up. As they had always 
paid promptly, I hated to turn them off ; so they remained, 
and I had the work to do, besides working hard every mo- 
ment to run the sewing-machine to earn enough to live on, 
so that what little I did get in rents could go to pay debts. 

1 often worked so hard that I have fainted and fallen to 
the floor, or when I arose in the morning, would fall back 
on the bed in a fainting fit, and lie there until Charlie would 
find me and bring me to. 

Charlie was in the telegraph office, but only got $30 a 
month. 

This did not pay his expenses, for he was attending an 
evening writing school, which cost him $25 a term. He at- 
tended two terms, but the third term Mr. Dow, the teacher, 
offered him for nothing if he would come. He thought a 
great deal of him, and knew he did not have a fair chance 
with the rest of the scholars, for he was in the office so late 
before he could get away to school. 

I think I saw the hardest time that summer of any while 
I was on the coast. Having so much money to pay out, 
and hardly any coming in, I did not know which way to 
turn, everybody wanting their pay, for they thought I was 
getting rich. It I could have convinced them I was not, 1 
might not have been so hard pushed as I was. 



148 Ten Years in Nevada. 

But I would not complain to them, for I knew the opinion 
prevailed I was coining money, when, in fact, I almost 
needed the comforts, or rather the necessaries, of life. 

Charlie used to call these times the " blue days." He 
declared we lived poorer than when we had no home of our 
own and lived in a rented house. He declared there was 
not a family in town that did not live better, whether they 
had a house or not. 

Then I would tell him the darkest hour was always just 
before day. 

In these dark hours I would go to my dear old stand-by 
friends, Mrs. Beck and Mrs. Rawson, and borrow monev to 
meet any sum I had promised, to prevent being sued, for I 
did not like to have the name of being sued for debt^; They 
always helped me out. 

At one time I was sick in bed, and my interest money 
fell due. The rent of the store just paying it, the people 
in the store thought it a good time to strike for lower rent. 
They came to me and said they would move unless I low- 
ered the rent $5. 

I did not know where I could get the money, and knew 
I must have it, so I told them I would let them have it. 

When they brought me the receipt to sign, they had un- 
derlined it with these words : "And we shall have it three 
months for this price." 

I was indignant at this, and refused to sign it at first. 

It would have been well for me if I had never signed it, 
as the reader will see hereafter. I did not then see my way 
clear. And I thought I could stand $5, and let them have 
their own way. 

The next week came the big fire, and there was hardly a 
business place left in town. 

I was offered $300 a month for my store if I could get 
the parties out. I went and asked them to let me have it 
for three months, and I would give them a room to store 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 149 

their furniture and their goods, and also a room in which 
to live. I also told them they could have the use of the 
store after this for two months. But they would not give 
it up, but wanted to know who the parties were, that they 
might rent it themselves. I told them they could not rent 
it without my consent, and I was quite sure I would not. 

My roomers all wanted to stay. They said they would 
pay up, so I let them remain. 

About this time the California Bank failed (if it could be 
called a failure), and the Nevada Bank commenced calling 
in its loans, and I, with the rest, was notified to pay $500 of 
my indebtedness. 

This was quite a sum to raise on a half day's notice, and, 
as I did not like to ask any person to loan so large a sum 
without security, I decided to give a new mortgage, and 
take up the old one. 

I went down to consult with Mrs. Beck about the busi- 
ness, for we always confided our little troubles to each 
other. 

I asked her if she knew of any person from whom I could 
borrow the money. 

" Yes," said she, " I know a person who will let you have 
it. He is the best man in town." 

Who is it? I asked. 

" M}^ old friend. Tommy Freehill," said she. 

If you think he will let me have it, send for him to come 
here, for I will have to raise the money by ten o'clock to- 
morrow. 

She sent for him, and he came. She introduced me to 
him. 

I made my business known to him. He loaned me the 
money — being $1,800 in gold coin. He took a mortgage 
on my place for the amount. 

I think I would have to try a little longer than two hours 
to borrow as large a sum as that in the East. 



150 Ten Years in Nevada. 

The fact is, the people of the coast always know how 
much each other is worth by the records ; and if a person 
applies to another for a large sum on security, he knows, 
without your telling, whether you have a good title, and if 
he has money to let, he can tell you in five minutes. 

Mr. Freehill has ever since proved a kind and valued 
friend, and, as Mrs. Beck said, the best man in town — a man 
of good principle and integrity. 

Three months before the fire I had seven rooms empty, 
but now I had a chance to rent them all at good prices. I 
got from $20 to $30 apiece for some time ; but for some of 
my double rooms, with two beds in, I got only $12, because 
I would not do as many of the people did. I would not 
raise on my old roomers, which 1 ought to have done, for I 
did not get my pay from many of them, and it was a good 
chance to get rid of them. 

So the big lire did not do me much good, only the filling 
up of the empty rooms. My house was packed full. 1 had 
to make up sixteen straw ticks, fill them, and put them on 
my garret fioor to accommodate the homeless. Then I 
moved all of my single and three-quarter beds up there 
after three weeks, and bought new ones for the first floor. 

My friend, Mrs. Rawson, was burned out. I offered her 
rooms, but she would not take them because I would not 
charge her for them. She lost everything she had, save a 
few things she had on. It was a big blow to them, for it 
will take years to replace what they lost. 

My friend, Mrs. Beck, lost twenty houses, but still had 
eight left. Mr. Beck had two left, but lost the contents of 
three stores, furniture, bedding, and dishes. I think be- 
tween them they must have lost $100,000, perhaps more. I 
think they, with many others, will long remember the 
twenty-sixth day of October, 1875. 

The fire did not come within three blocks of my house, 
yet my friends and roomers kept constantly sending me 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 151 

word to stay by my house, for there was no knowing how 
soon the fire might reach me, or it might be robbed by 
Chinamen or others, as it seemed to be the order of the 
day. 

I was thus kept at home all day, when 1 might have been 
of use to my friends. 1 had two women boarding with me, 
but neither of them would stay. Both wanted to go out 
and view the fire, but they had no friends in the part of the 
town where the fire was. However, 1 was compelled to 
stay myself. 

Alter the fire it was duller than ever, except carpenter 
work, and this was overdone, for nearly everybody built 
two and three stories high, till every house in town was a 
lodging-house. 

Mrs. Beck had half of her twenty houses built in less 
than three months, and before the end of the year she had 
them all completed. 

She only had a small insurance on three of her houses. 

1 will not dwell on this fire longer, for I never look back 
to those few months directly after the fire but my heart 
aches tor those suffering poor people who suffered at that 
time. 

The rich ones did well enough, for if they were burned 
out, they had the means to buy more, and did. 

I will now write something about my own affairs. 

Just before the big fire 1 met with the law firm of Brand- 
som & Stuart. They offered to take my business, and push 
it right along, for one-third of all they could hunt up out- 
side of what I then had already found, except the Kentucky 
stock. They were to have one-third of that, too. 

I went to Mr. Drake and asked him if he was willing to 
give up the case, as he seemed to be so busy. 

He was perfectly willing to let them take it. I took my 
papers to them, and they immediately cited Mr. Waters 
before the court and questioned him, but did not make out 



152 Ten Years in Nevada. 

anything. They were still in hopes of getting something, 
when my friend, Mr. French, came up from Silver City and 
told me that a company from Silver City was taking out a 
patent on the Atlantic claim. This was situated on my 
mill-site, and I also owned one hundred and twenty feet in 
the claim. 

He said he happened to see the notice in the Silver City 
paper, and thinking I did not take that paper, had come up 
to let me know about it. 

" You had better see to it at once, or you may be too 
late," said he. 

I went immediately to my lawyers, and told them to put 
in a protest. Mr. Stuart said all I had to do was to jump 
aboard of the afternoon train — for we had a railroad now 
from Virginia City to Reno, although it was the most 
crooked road ever made— and go down to Carson City, 
and Judge Watts would make me a protest. 

I thought Mr. Stuart ought to know what to do. So I 
jumped aboard of the train and went down. I got there 
about nine o'clock at night, the rain descending in a drizzling 
shower. I went straight to the judge's office and told him 
my business. He said : " I think you are too late ; 1 will 
see." 

He looked at his books, and said : " No ; you have got 
till day after to-morrow at twelve o'clock ; but you have 
got to have several abstracts, and I think you had better 
see a lawyer here in town, and find out what you do want. 
I will go with you." 

He took his umbrella and went to half a dozen places 
with me, but every place was closed up. I began to think 
we would not find one open. At last we found a lawyer 
who was just going home. It was a rainy night, and they 
had all shut up and gone home, but this one soon told me 
what I must do. The judge told him to give me a list of 
the papers I needed. He did so — two of which I was to 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 153 

get in Dayton, one in Silver City, one at the recorder's 
office in Virginia City, and the other was a map to be di^awn 
by a surveyor. He promised to meet me at Brown's office 
at one o'clock, but failed to do so. 

After I completed my arrangements made with him I 
went to the hotel, got supper, and then went to bed, after 
telling the landlord to call me for the first train. This 
started at half-past three o'clock. At the appointed time ! 
took the train, and arrived in Gold Hill at six o'clock sharp. 
It was scarcely daylight, and not hardly a person to be seen- 

I intended to take an early stage to Dayton, but found 
there would be none till ten o'clock. I could not wait for 
that, because I had too much to do and too much at stake. 
I had to search the records in both Dayton and Silver City. 
There was but one way for me to reach Dayton, and that 
was to foot it. 

And I started on my pedestrian trip without breakfast, 
for it was too early to get any. 

The distance from Dayton to Gold Hill is eight miles, if 
I have not been misinformed. I walked the entire distance 
in one hour and a half, making a mile in eleven minutes and 
two seconds. I thought this pretty fast time for a new 
beginner. 1 knew if I lost half an hour I would be too late. 

I found the recorder I wanted, and the recorder promised 
to copy them and send them to Carson City by ten o'clock 
the next day, if he had to hire an extra; and he kept his 
word. 

I left Dayton by nine o'clock for Silver City. Here I 
came near having a failure, for the recorder was sick in 
bed ; but when he heard it was a lady who wanted to see 
him, he requested me to come in, and directed his clerk to 
bring his books to him. He told him on what page to look 
and find the papers I wanted. He did find them, and I got 
an abstract of them. It was the names of the locators of 
the claim. 



154 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I then went up to Gold Hill, in hopes of getting the 'buss 
for Virginia City, but was a little too late for it. I was so 
tired I could not go on till I had rested myself. 

I went into some of the stores and looked over some of 
their goods, just to pass away time, hoping a 'buss might 
pass. But no such good luck. I waited half an hour, but 
none came. 

I then started out, but met an old friend, who wanted me 
to help her select some goods. She said she had come 
down from Virginia City to trade, because she could do so 
much better here. 

I told her I had not time. 

"Oh ! I will not be ten minutes," said she. 

Well, I will wait ten minutes. 

The ten minutes amounted to half an hour before I was 
aware of it. 

I now told her I must go. 

The 'buss had not yet come. I walked on till I reached 
home, very tired, and nearly starved. I went in and got 
something to eat, then went to the recorder's office and got 
the papers I needed. I then went to Mr. Brown's office to 
get my map, and found the lawyer had not waited for me> 
but had gone back to Carson City. 

I also learned he was employed on the other side, and 
had agreed to meet me just to gain time over me; but it 
did him no good, for 1 was on time with my papers to head 
him off. 

I now went to my lawyer and told him what I had done, 
and that he must go to Carson City that afternoon, for I 
only had till twelve o'clock the next day. 

" Well," said he, " I will be ready to take the five o'clock 
train." 

We went down to the depot, and found there was no train 
going before morning. We now went home, agreeing to 
start early in the morning. We took the morning train, 



Life on the Pacific Coast, 155 

and reached Carson City at half-past nine o'clock. We had 
some distance to go before we reached the office, and it 
wanted fifteen minutes of ten. We had barely got seated, 
when in came a man from Dayton with the papers the re- 
corder had sent. He was about, ten minutes ahead of time. 
I now put in my protest. I then came home on the one 
o'clock train. I was now so completely tired out that I 
laid in bed a whole day to get rested. 

This put a stop to the company's getting a patent. They 
now came and offered to settle with me. 

My claim on the mine came to nearly four thousand 
shares of the stock, and they agreed if I would take it, 
to pay all the expenses 1 had been to for the protest. 
They paid $100 down, and gave me their notes for the 
stock. 

One of the company wanted me to let him have it for $3 a 
share, in thirty days. He wanted my word he should have 
it, and I gave it ; but when the thirty da3's were up, they 
neither brought the money nor stock. 

I wrote several letters, and then they came up and wanted 
me to give them more time. 

1 gave them thirty days more, then I told them they must 
settle. 

The president of the company gave new notes, and 
backed them himself, and when the time was up, he sent 
his son to get me to wait till he came up. His son said 
he was on the way, and would be there by six o'clock and 
pay me if I would not protest the notes. But they had 
already deceived me too much for me to be cheated again, 
for I was sure he was not coming at all; but I thought he 
wanted me to let the time slip by for protesting, which was 
in banking hours. It was nearly three o'clock, and the 
bank closed at four, so I told him I would meet him at 
Bronson's office at five o'clock, and see if his father had 
come. 



156 Ten Years in Nevada. 

As soon as I got rid of him, I went straight to a notary 
and got my notes protested, and when I met him at five 
o'clock, he said his father had not come, and he did not 
know what to make of it. 

Well, it does not make any difference as long as the notes 
are protested, said I. 

He whirled around as if stung by a bee, and said : " Pro- 
tested ! Did you protest the notes ? " 

Certainly I did ; you know it is best to be on the safe 
side. 

He was so surprised and disappointed that he scarcely 
knew what to do, but finally stammered out : " Well, there 
was no need of that ; father will pay it if the company will 
not." 

Well, if he does, there is no harm done. 

" Yes, but it looks bad to have a note protested," said he. 

Well, said I, it looks worse for me to lose all my interest 
in the mine without getting any pay ; and if the company 
are afraid of their name, they should be more careful of 
their word — and it is a larger sum than I can afford to lose. 

After the notes were protested, I could not get a settle- 
ment with them for nearly eleven months. He sent me $40 
for interest, then would not do anything more. 

They finally got in debt, and I was afraid they would 
break, for they were all heavy in stocks, so Mr, Aitkens 
told me. He had lost his meat market by a fire, so I got 
rather frightened. My lawyers had managed to get part of 
their pay, and they wanted the rest. 

I had given them one-third of the amount for which I 
sold in the notes I had received, and they had taken less 
than the lace of the notes to get their money, therefore I 
began to think they took but little interest in the affair. 
Besides, I heard my parents were failing in health, and de- 
termined to sacrifice something on the notes before I w^ould 
stay from them any longer. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 157 

I settled up with them at a great sacrifice, and finally got 
rid of the Atlantic Company — as big a set of rogues, in my 
opinion, as ever walked the streets of San Francisco, of 
which Charles IL Aitkens was chief. I would not take his 
word under oath, not even if he had no interest in the case. 

I write this from experience, and from personal experi- 
ence I judge them. 

If anyone doubts it, let them try a deal with them, and if 
they do not cheat you, it will be because you arc too smart 
for them. 

I will copy some of their letters here : 

Sax Francisco, August 19, 1877. 
My Dear Madam : 

I am sorr)^ that I have to ask you to grant us further 
time, so as not to put the company to useless expense in 
commencing suit, for I think in a very short time we shall 
have two or three men that have promised to take hold of 
the mine and work it, they say, within the next sixty days. 
Now I thought that I would have been able to assist you 
with some money, but I have had the misfortune to get 
burned out, and lost nearly everything I had. The com- 
pany owes me over $4,000 now, but I want to see you paid 
before [ expect any money for myselt. Now, if we don't 
succeed with these parties, I shall try and borrow money 
on the whole mine and get you paid. It will not help you 
to get your money any sooner to commence suit, as the 
company has no money at present, and you would only 
hurt their prospect for getting the money by your suing. 
I shall do all I can in the next thirty days to raise you the 
money, and I think that I will be successful ; and if I am, 
you will get your money the first that is paid ; so, for you 
to be in a hurr}^ now, it will do no good, and only injure 
your prospects and views. But if you will give us a little 
more time, you will get your money all right. You ought 



'1 5 8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

to do so, for had it not been for me you would not have 
had an3^thing but your stock, and that is not worth much 
at present. But if we are let alone for a little longer, we 
will come out all right, and you will get your money. Write 
and let me know if you will grant us the time, and oblige 

Your friend, 

Charles H. Aitkens. 
208 Ellis Street, San Francisco. 

San Francisco, October 22, 1877. 
Mrs. Mathews: 

I received your answer by letter from your son. Now it 
is no use for me to say that I can ever pay you the amount 
of your notes that you claim. The mine is not worth it. 
And there are so many claims against it that I canhot pay 
them. My claim against the company I have assigned over 
to my creditors, as I owe a great deal of money here, and 
don't see my way clear at present. The balance ot the cred- 
itors in the mine are willing to take fifty cents on the dol- 
lar cash, so if you are willing to take $1,000 in gold coin 
for your claim against the mine, let me know by telegraph, 
and you can have the money within one week ; but if that 
won't do, you can do what you think best. I shall have to 
borrow that amount, but shall do so if you will accept of 
that proposition, and shall bring you the money before the 
month is out, or by this day week. It is the best that I can 
•do ; so let me know by telegraph if you will take that offer. 
Respectfully yours, 

Charles H. Aitkens. 

P. S. You can make what you can of the mill-site after 
the company starts up again, if they do ; but they will 
never start again unless they can settle the amounts stand- 
ing against them in the way, and your mill-site will be of 
no use to you. There is about $3,000 of wages due the 
men in the mine, and that is about as much as the mine is 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 159 

worth, and that will have to be paid first. So you see there 
is no chance then for you to get any money there, and I 
am sorry to say that I have not got the means to pay you ; 
so do as you please ; but I would advise you to take what 
the company offer you, as it is not my money but the com- 
pany's, and that is the only way that they will settle. So 
answer by telegraph what you will do. 

C. H. AlTKENS. 

I have a note of agreement in my possession, given by 
Mr. Aitkens, to be paid in a hundred shares of Atlantic 
stock, to be delivered in six months. 

As soon as we settled, he told me he would not pay it. I 
went to San Francisco to see him, but he refused to pay it. 
I called on the company, and they told me they had sent 
me the full amount of my notes, and they could not help it 
if I had settled for less. 

Now, when he came to Virginia City he told me the 
company were so badly in debt that they could not nor 
would not pay me but so much ; but they did, all the same, 
for I would not settle at their price. I did not get much 
over half what my notes called for in money, and three 
hundred shares of stock. The one hundred shares he owed 
me on a former settlement. 

I also made him give me his word and honor that the 
stock which he gave me when we settled up should not be 
assessed, and I in return had promised to keep it out of the 
market till they were done pooling it. 

Before I reached San Francisco the stock was assessed 
25 cents on each share. This would take about $75 to pay 
it, or about twenty-five shares of stock. 

1 was then ready to leave for the East, and did not want 
to bother. I gave the stock to Mr. Drake for his kindness 
in writing up my administration papers. 

Before six months the stock sold for $3 per share ; and if 
he did not sell it, it is his own fault, not mine. If they 



i6o Ten Years in Nevada. 

tooK part of the stock for assessment, they could not take 
the whole. 

This one instance will show the reader there was no re- 
liance in his (Aitken's) word. 

But mark me, the mine will never do them any good — at 
least the part they cheated me out of — for God will mete it 
out to them as they mete it out to others. I am content to 
leave them in His hands. 

Before I have done with them, let me tell the reader how 
Mr. Aitkens tried to deceive me with the spiritual humbug- 
gery of his wife. 

He told me his wife was really a wonderful woman ; 
could tell me anything I wanted to know. 

I told him I would like to see her, although I took no 
stock in spirits. 

He said : " I will go right dowm and bring her up." 
He did so. I took them into a private room. As soon 
as I had closed the door, he said : " Now ask her any ques- 
tion you want to know, and she will tell you." 

" Wait," said his wife, " till I get fixed all right and 
go into a trance, for I am a clairvoyant, hot a spirit- 
ualist." 

She then sat down in a chair, and truly, I could hardly 
keep from laughing in her face. She commenced rubbing 
her hands, and passing them several times over her face. 
Next, she commenced shaking her head to and fro, and 
from side to side, winking her eyes, and jerking her hands 
and feet, till I really imagined I was in a school-room, 
where the children were playing " Queen Dido's dead." 

Lest some of my readers may not know how this little 
game is played, I will give them an insight. 

The children all sit on a bench. The first one says, 
" Queen Dido is dead." The second one then says, " How 
did she die ? " " Doing just so," says the first, shaking her 
head. The question is repeated and answered till the head. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. i6i 

feet, and hands are in motion. And the whole crowd re- 
sembles so many jumping-jacks. 

Well, now, the clairvoyant scene I am about to describe 
was as near like this as two pears are alike ; for I often 
caught her husband imitating her without seeming to know 
what he was doing. His head and hands went about as fast 
as hers. 

Her neck began to twist and turn in every shape, like a 
person in a fit of hysteria, or perhaps like a chicken swal- 
lowing dough. 

Finally, she called out, " ready ! " and settled back in 
her chair very quietly. 

Her husband said : " Now she is ready ; ask her anything 
you like. Oh, she will surprise you ! " 

And I was very much surprised, for the first question I 
asked her was, if she could see my brother. 

She said :. '.* He is here, going to talk with )^ou ; now 
listen ! " 

She said : " Go home ; don't worry about me ; I am not 
worth minding. I am all eat up here," at the same time 
placing her hands on her stomach. " I killed myself drink- 
ing ; I was of no account ; I did not have anything ; and 
you will never get a cent ; you had better go home right 
off ; don't bother any more. That is all I have to say." 

And immediately she passed her hands over her face, 
and opened her eyes. 

" There," said he, "didn't I tell you she was wonderful ! 
Don't you see how true she told everything ? " 

No, sir, said I ; she has not told me a single word that is 
true ; she will have to guess again. On the other side of the 
wall I heard a suppressed giggle. 

" Why, she told you your brother killed himself drinking, 
and that is true, isn't it ? " 

No, sir, said I ; not a drop of any kind of spirits ever 
passed his lips (that smothered laugh again). 



1 62 Ten Years in Nevada. 

He seemed surprised, and turning to his wife, said : " I 
thought Mr. and Mrs. Waters both told us he drank him- 
self to death." 

" So they did ; I am quite sure," said she. 

Now, reader, they had previously told me that they knew 
these parties only by sight, and now, in their eagerness, 
they had acknowledged that they were simpl)' repeating 
what they had told them, but by some blunder they had 
got the story wrong. 

I was thoroughly disgusted, and when they offered to 
have her go into another trance and see what else she 
could see, she said : " Perhaps it was another person that 
came to speak instead of your brother." 

I told them No ; I had enough for one day. 

They then took their leave. I have never seen her since, 
nor do I wish to. 

I suppose he had no intention of paying me, and that is 
why he had the spirit advise me to go home. 

I give him credit for the ingenuity of his spirit plot, if 
he only had sense to have carried it on without bringing 
himself out. It was a great pity to spoil all her fine acting 
by one blunder. It was a real shame. 

A laugh came from a roomer in the next room, who had 
listened to the spirit revelation, and found it very amusing, 
as he afterwards told me. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Description of Virginia City and its Inhabitants — The Secret Societies — Water 
Company — Gambling — The Centennial Fourth. 

(Sri 

J I WILL now give the reader a description of Virginia 
[ City. It is situated on the east side of Mt Davidson, 
and also at its base, taking in the whole ravine or flat be- 
tween it and Sugar Loaf Mountain, Cemetery Hill, and 
County House Slope. 

Cemetery Hill is a rise of ground north-west of Sugar 
Loaf, and north-east of Virginia City. 

County House Slope is another hill directly east of Vir- 
ginia City, and south of Sugar Loaf. Sugar Loaf is also 
east of Virginia City. It takes its name from its resem- 
blance to a loaf of sugar. 

The streets of Virginia City are graded out of the side 
of the mountain. The cross streets are very steep. It is in 
the form of a basin on three sides, sloping from north-west, 
and south from the mountains that surround, and the rise 
of ground at the north and south ends. 

The north end is called the Gygar Grade ; the south end 
the Divide, being a hill which separates it from Gold Hill. 

Virginia City was first laid out in alphabetical order, com- 
mencing with A, B, C, and so on. After it was laid out a 
few years, people began to build higher up the side ot the 
mountain. 

The first street above A Street is called Howard Street ; 
the second, Stuart; the third. Summit. I suppose they 
thought they had got as high up as they thought they 



164 Ten Years in Nevada. 

could stand it to live. But there are now several streets 
higher up, the names of which I do not know. 

The cross streets are as follows : Bridge Street, Bullion 
Ravine Street, High School Crossing, Silver, Flowery, 
Smith, Taylor, Union, Carson, Sutton Avenue, Mill Street, 
Andes Avenue, Nevada Street, Gygar Grade, and a host ol 
other cross streets, whose names, it they have any, I do not 
know, as I never lived in that part of the city. 

Nearly every house, on some streets, is two stories high 
from necessity. One story faces the street, while the two 
stories of the same building face the center of the block. 
Or, take a building running from B to C Street, you will 
find one story on B and two on C Street. A house three 
stories on B Street is four stories on C Street, one story 
being half under ground on B, and lit by heavy glass lights 
in the sidewalk. Yet there are many places where houses 
are free, on all sides, from banks. 

The eastern portion of the city is more level. 

The Chinamen have the most level part of the city above 
I Street. This part of the city is called Chinatown, for 
here is where they first settled in the city. Here is where 
they have their stores and opium dens. 

Virginia City had some fine buildings before the fire, 
nearly one-third of them brick, but the fire took both brick 
and wood. The ruins of the brick buildings were fearful 
to behold after the fire. Three and four-story buildings 
stood swaying backwards and forwards in the heavy gales of 
wind. Every day would find some of them tumbling 
down. 

But the city is now built up with much finer buildings 
than it had before the fire, for the handsomest part of the 
town was not destroyed, or a portion of it. They have 
many nice buildings now. 

The court-house on B Street is an elegant building ; also 
the Miners' Union, and Pioneer Hall. 



Life oil the Pacific Coast. 165 

Bonanza Hill, situated on South B Street, has some lovely 
buildings. 

All the best livery stables are kept on B Street. 

C Street has all the banks and telegraph offices. The 
Masonic and Odd Fellows' halls. Wells & Fargo's Express 
office, books and stationery stores, dry-goods, grocery, and 
provision stores, are all mostly on C Street, as well as nearly 
all the drug stores, gambling dens, and whisky mills ; and 
of the two last mentioned, there is no end to them. It 
always seemed to me that every fourth door was a saloon 
of either one or the other kind. All of the most popular 
restaurants are on this street; also National Guard Hall. 
It is the main street in the city, and the business part of the 
town. 

D Street was the condemned part of the city, being a 
street that no decent person lived on, at least but few north 
of Taylor Street. The south end is all occupied by respect- 
able people. 

There is no end to physicians, druggists, dentists, and 
lawyers, and they are scattered promiscuousl}' over the city. 

The International Hotel is an elegant brick building, ex- 
tending from C Street to B Street. It is, I believe, six 
stories high. It is nicely furnished, and well conducted. 

There are a great many meat markets scattered over the 
city, but C Street has the largest number, having some fif- 
teen or twenty as fine markets as there are found in the 
United States. They take great pains in fixing them up in 
a \ery tasty and ornamental style on all holidays. It would 
do you good to drop in any of them, and see the nice fat 
meats of every kind used, trimmed off with roses and arti- 
ficial flowers, cut out of tissue paper, with their great dis- 
play of elks and bears' heads. I think it quite as much of a 
sight as anything in the city on those days. 

I do not mean to say that there are none of the places I 
have mentioned to be found in any other street but C 



1 66 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Street, but only a larger portion of each kind is found 
there than on any other one street. It is much larger than 
any other street. 

Virginia City was built up, after the big fire, in a very 
short time. The people of the Comstock are no drones. 
The fire started at six o'clock in the morning and every- 
thing burned north of Taylor Street before three o'clock. 
Several of the inhabitants had the frames of buildings put 
up the same day. 

After a small hre I have often seen workmen putting up 
buildings over the still smoking ruins. This was quite a 
common occurrence. 

I have been told that the top of Mt. Davidson is three 
miles above the lowest street of Virginia City. Not leaving 
measured it, I cannot vouch for the statement. The people 
always keep a flag erected on its highest pinnacle. When 
I first went to Virginia City thev had a wooden pole for a 
Hag-staff, and many of the inhabitants had their names cut 
on the staff. They now have a fine iron staff erected at 
great expense to the city. 

I visited Mt. Davidson three times while in Virginia 
City — twice in summer, and the last time in winter. Mrs. 
Burkhaiter, of Dutch Flat, was visiting Virginia City, and 
having never visited the mountain, was desirous of doing 
so before she returned. It was in winter. The snow laid 
thick on the mountain. The crust was so thick we could 
walk on the top. We took a lunch, and when half way up 
the hill, had to stop and eat we were so exhausted, although 
we did not go up the steepest side, but went up the ravine 
above Taylor Street, and passed around to the west side be- 
fore we began to climb to the toj5. 

On the west side is a number of shafts, which were sunk 
some years ago by a man who, report says, was crazy, and 
sunk a fortune in sinking these shafts in search of gold. In 
the summer any person going up can see these places and 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 167 

avoid them, but in winter the snow nearly covers them, so 
that a person going- up as we did would think them little 
hollows in the ground. We were climbing along up, when 
I commenced sinking in the snow. In an instant I knew 
where I was, and cried out, I am sinking ! I was in the 
snow to my waist, when my friend caught me and jerked 
me backwards, and dragged me out so I could help myself, 
and after that we were more careful. We did not attempt 
to cross another hollow. 

We finally reached the top, finished our lunch, wrote our 
names on the staff, and then descended the eastern side of 
the mountain. This is the steepest side. We took our 
way home. I could never be persuaded to go again. 

Companies often meet up there and have picnics, and en- 
joy them ver)^ much. 

In going up the mountain you can hardly breathe after 
you have gone half the distance, the atmosphere being so 
light. There is such an acute pain passes through your ear 
that it seems as if a heavy weight was pressing both sides 
of your head at once. By taking water with you and drink- 
ing it frequently, you will travel with more ease. 

One could view the entire city with a glass, but to the 
naked eye everything was very small, people looking no 
larger than mere children. Some small ones would be 
scarcely visible. But with a field-glass you could have a 
lovely view of the whole city. 

The streets ot Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, and 
Dayton, and, in fact, every mining town, are literally paved 
with gold and silver dust. 

I have heard many old miners say they had no doubt 
anyone might make a good living by working the dust in 
the streets the same as they did the tailings from the mills, 
and I do not doubt it myself. You can pick up good pieces 
ot quartz from the dirt hauled on the streets to fill up mud 
holes with. Good specimens are found every day. 



1 68 Ten Years in Nevada. 

The Spaniards go about with sacks, picking- up speci- 
mens from the streets or dumps or mountain-sides — an}'- 
where they can find them. Then they have hand-mills to 
crush them with. 

Yes, reader, every step you take there is on gold and 
silver. 

Most of the mining machinery, mills, and hoisting works 
are on and below D Street. Many of the old works were 
on B Street when I first went there, but these have all been 
taken away, and new ones erected below D Street. 

Many of the old shafts remain uncovered or unprotected 
by rail or fence. Every little while a skeleton is found in 
some of them. 

The city ought to look after this as much as an}" other 
nuisance, and make each compan}' secure its own shafts, 
but they never seem to give it a thought, 

Sonetimes the ground caves in where some mine has 
not kept its shafts and tunnels in good condition ; and 
where they come too near the surface it often breaks 
through. 

I was talking with a lady in her house, and heard ham- 
mering going on under her house. I asked her where it was. 

She said : " The}' are putting in new timbers in the mines 
down under the house." 

You could hear them as plainly as il they were in the yard. 

One large two-story store went down on the ChoUar 
ground the year before 1 went to Virginia City. Fort- 
unately, no one was in it at the time, as it was in the night. 
Everything took fire, and was destroyed. I was told that 
the smoke came up out of the pit for days. It was both a 
dry goods and grocery store. It was completely swallowed 
up, not even the chimney being visible. It left the man 
who owned it quite poor. 

I know several places where the ground is cracking open 
beneath houses. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 169 

You Eastern people would hardly fancy this, but Nevad- 
ans do not mind it. 

I will now give the reader an introduction to the inhab- 
itants of Virginia City. They are the same as all other 
mining towns, composed of all classes, and they are of every 
nationality under the sun. Americans, Scotch, Irish, Eng- 
lish, French, Germans from every German State in the Old 
World ; Spanish, Mexicans, Norwegians, Italians, Piute In- 
dians, and John Chinaman — he being the worst of all, and 
is truly the curse of the Pacific Coast, But of him 1 will 
speak hereafter. 

The miners are pnncipally Irish arid English from Corn, 
wall ; but there are some of all nations in the mines. 

The Germans and Jews generally take the lead in dry 
goods and second-hand turniture stores. The Irish and 
Americans lead in the grocery stores, and Americans and 
Irish are generally the bankers and brokers. 

The Germans and Irish are decidedly the richest people ; 
the English the poorest. 

Yet I often wonder at it, for there are so many Cornish 
miners here, and hard-working men ; but drinking and 
gambling are the cause of two-thirds of the suffering in 
Virginia City. 

The Americans there are neither one thing nor the other, 
but enter into everything there is going. They are great 
speculators, and often go through with all they have in one 
mining excitement. They do not get disheartened, but go 
to work again. 

I think the English and all foreigners get discouraged 
sooner than the Americans do. They are too restless to 
mope around over a loss. I do not think there are as many 
to be found among the Americans who go insane over their 
losses as there are among the foreign class. Most of the 
English, French, and Irish generally do as the Chinamen 
do. When they get rich they start for the old country to 



I/O Ten Years in Nevada. 

spend their money, and this is one of the greatest causes of 
hard times in America. The money should be spent where 
it is made. 

The people of all nations in California and Nevada live 
about ten years faster than the people of the States do. 
They live very high, eating the richest and best food in the 
market, at all hours of both day and night, both in season 
and out of season. 

Two-thirds of the inhabitants of the city boaid at res- 
taurants, many of them with whole families of children, 
three and four in number. The male portion of a family 
generally get up and go to the restaurant, eat their break- 
fast, and go to work at six and seven o'clock ; and the 
miners especially. At ten and eleven o'clock you will see 
the ladies go stringing into the restaui^ants with their chil- 
dren. 

Men sometimes get a chance to eat two meals a day with 
their families ; but if they do, they are in big luck, for a 
lady who eats her breakfast at ten and eleven o'clock, as 
many of them do, can scarcely start in on a Virginia City 
restaurant dinner before one or two o'clock ; then she does 
not want to eat again till seven or eight o'clock in the even- 
ing, and miners and business men want to eat their meals 
when they come from work. 

How would you Eastern ladies like taking children out 
in cold, stormy weather, or else carry a plate of food home 
to them, and have it cold when you reach home with it. 
This is a common occurrence ; and if persons boarding 
are taken sick, their meals are sent to them. Even those 
families that do board themselves, when they want a square 
meal, as they call it, go out and get it ; and nearly 
everybody goes out on Sunday and the holidays to one meal. 

Board at a high-toned, or, in other words, at the first- 
class restaurants is %\ a day, or "four bits" a meal; but 
you will get everything that the market affords, and the 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 171 

market of Virginia City affords everything that grows 
which is tit to eat, and a thousand and one things which 
are not fit to eat — thinks that I do not think were ever iii- 
tcndetl to pass human lips, and have only been brought 
into the food-list by epicures who could not get different 
dishes enough to suit their perverted tastes. I never saw 
people like them, as a class; they wanted so many kinds of 
rich dishes to eat at one meal. They are not only epicures, 
but gormandizers. 

Every restaurant table groans with food of every kind 
gathered from every kingdom on the globe. From eight to 
twelve different kinds of vegetables, and nearly as many 
kinds of meat, are on the table three times a day. Cakes, 
and every kind of pastry and puddings, you will find ; there 
are also fruits from every country and clime. 

There is just one trouble — that is, their filthy China cooks ;. 
bui: many of the best restaurants fortunately have aban- 
doned China cooks, and employed good respectable white 
people in their place. 

The expensive tables which they set is the secret of so 
many restaurants breaking up, for many of them have debts 
amounting to $300 and $400 a month ; they will lose on the 
same men they have been feedmg so high. 

There is scarcely a month but from one to three restau- 
rants break up, and are sold out at auction on an attach- 
ment, and a new restaurant is started in its place, only to 
soon meet a similar fate. 

Within the last two years there have been three or four 
" two-bit " restaurants started in Virginia City. They are 
on a different plan. You only get two different kinds of 
meat, and two kinds of vegetables ; pie or pudding, and 
tea or coffee — a sort of lunch, not a square meal. 

You always get the best kinds of fruits, candies, raisins, 
nuts, and wines, on Sundays and all holidays, in all the best 
restaurants and boardins:-houses. 



1/2 Ten Years in Nevada. 

They take from a half to an hour and a half time eating. 
Everybody works on time there, and when his time is -up, 
j'ou will see every man dressed in his best, promenading 
the streets, looking at the stock-boards which are hung in 
every broker's window, bank window, express office, and 
many saloons and groceries ; and around every one of these 
men and women are gathered as thick as bees on clover. 
And about half-past seven and eight o'clock you will see 
every lady going to the theater, or to some hall to hear a 
lecture, or lodge of some of the many different orders of 
which Virginia C'ity can boast. 

The people of all nationalities are about the same in prin- 
•ciple and disposHion. I never was in a community where 
people were more hasty either in word or deed. It is said 
the climate is the cause of that. If they have anything to 
say, you generally hear it right to your face. No matter if 
it is good or bad, whichever party it does not suit draws a 
six-shooter or knife, whatever happens to be in his posses- 
sion, and goes for his opponent, and if he is not a dead man 
in five minutes, it is simpl}^ because his position does not 
allow him to get a good aim. 

If you ask a favor, they either grant it, or tell you at once 
they can't or won't. 

In California and Nevada men and women are very gen- 
erous ; they will divide their last potato with you, or give 
their last " bit " to a charitable cause; and not many even 
stop to inquire whether it is for charit}' or not. Some even 
go so far that if they see a man or woman coming towards 
them with a subscription list, their hand goes into their 
pocket like magic, and out again full of coin, and by the 
time you have reached them, what money they can spare is 
counted out and handed to you. 

I never saw such liberal people. I think the working- 
class is the best to go to for subscriptions of small amounts, 
or for benefits and tickets. There is not one day in the 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 173 

year, unless it is the Sabbath, that you do not see men, 
women, and children selling tickets. There are generally 
from ten to twelve different tickets on the streets at the 
same time for sale ; and frequently you meet three or four 
gathered around one man with different tickets. If he takes 
from one he must take from all, or he can go no further 
until he does. 

The miners say that they have to shell out $6 or $7 a 
month for tickets ; and then if a person is killed in a mine^ 
they all have to pay $1 to the subscription list for the 
widow ; or if he is single and poor, to bury him decently, 
providing he is not a member of a lodge. Many of them 
give more than $1. 

I have been told by my roomers that it was seen in the 
papers that such a mine gave $200, $400, or $600, meaning 
the big stockholders, when the mine never gave a cent, 
but just kept $1 out of every man's wages, and be obliged 
to put up with it or be discharged. 

Now, is it any wonder, when a miner is so severely taxed 
as this, that he cannot pay his board and room rent, especi- 
ally if he happens to be a drinking man or gambler, as 
many of them are? His landlady stands no show at all. 
He calls these debts of honor; but a debt for provisions, 
house rent, or board is not a debt of honor, and is of little 
concern to him whether it is paid or not. 

I said the people were generous, and would give their 
last dime, and take their chances in getting another. If, by 
a turn in stock, or other marvelous turn in fortune, you 
should win $10,000 in a day, and the same person who had 
given you his last dime could cheat you out of it by any kind 
of a bargain, or by gambling, brokerage, or any other way, 
he is sure to do it, and never so much as say " Thank you." 
A great many people never think of paying a debt unless 
compelled to do so. I have over §700 of bad debts on my 
books now. 



174 ^^''^ Vi'ars in Nevada. 

Another thing many of the people do. If they hire a 
house, they are bound to get the worth of their money, for 
they will take no care of the house or premises. Others, 
Avhen they leave, will tear down partitions, tear off base- 
boards, take out windows and doors, and carry them off. 
Some will tear down any part they can and carry it off. 

A Jew rented my store of me for $60 a month. The con- 
tract called for gold coin. When he came to pay me the 
lirst month's rent he had $5 in silver, and induced me to 
take it by paying the discount. Next month he had $10, 
and the next month $15 ; but the month following he had 
$25, and was not willing to give any discount. He was in 
my store when I left. I had been gone but a few months 
when he told my agent to lower his rent to $50 or he would 
leave. 

When the year was up, my agent notified me of the fact. 

I returned the word, " Let him leave." 

When he left he took down partitions in two places; he 
also tore away two doors — one he put in himself, and one 
that had been in ever since the house was built. He was 
to leave all the improvements in the house just as he found 
them. He did neither, but took everything he could tear 
loose from the house. 

When I went back the house was a perfect wreck inside, 
and a more filthy den I never entered. I cleaned nearly a 
whole week on the house in order to get it so a white per- 
son could live in it. I caused several loads of oyster-cans, 
old rags, and feathers to be hauled away. It cost me con- 
siderable to repair and paper it anew. 

Now I could have handled this Jew pretty severely with 
the law, but I had no time. I had only made a flying trip 
there, and was in a hurry to return. So I went to his store, 
my friend, Mrs. Beck, accompanying me. I told him I 
wanted him to settle with me for the damages. He or- 
dered me out of his store, using the most obscene language 



Life oil the Pacific Coast. 175 

to me. His wife joined in, and used as indecent language 
as he did. I was thoroughly disgusted, and left their store, 
being glad to get rid of their tcnigues. 

They escaped justice because my time was too precious 
to waste on them. 

Dealing in stock is a species of gambling, unless you 
thoroughly understand the business. If you go on mere 
hearsay or guess-work, or by your broker, it is ten chances 
to one if you do not lose all you invest, and perhaps more. 
People generally deal after this fashion : They visit a 
broker's ofifice, and ask what is the best to buy. Often the 
broker declines to give his opinion, and sometimes he tells 
you for your good, and sometimes for his own. When for 
your good, you make every time ; when for his, you lose. 
If he advises you to double up on your stock, you are 
pretty sure to lose, for stocks go up and down so fast that 
you can hardly keep up with them. To double up on stocks 
is to " pond " what you have paid for, and get more on 
credit ; if stocks go down, your margins go down, too. 
Your broker then calls for more " mud," which means 
money. I do not know from whence this word started. If 
you cannot put up more money, he sells you out, and you 
are left without a cent — sometimes hundreds and even 
thousands of dollars in debt. 

These are the cases that try men and women's good 
sense, for if fortune has not given them a pretty good 
supply of sense, those who have lost all are pretty sure to 
take a drink of laudanum, or end their lives with a revolver, 
or, what is still worse, go insane, and are packed off to 
Stockton, in California. They have no insane asylum in 
Nevada at the present time. 

Perhaps it is the broker's fault, perhaps your own. It is 
as apt to be one as the other, for there are some brokers 
who have no conscience, although you will see them in 
church every Sabbath. I have met some four or five of 



iy6 Ten Years m Nevada. 

this class, and but for them I should have had thousands of 
dollars that I have lost through their dishonesty. 

Then I have met others who were truly honest. When 
a person has failed through his broker, and blows out his 
brains, the broker is sure to say : " Poor, foolish man ; he 
did not know how to deal in stocks, and yet he would not 
let them alone ! " And if a charitable person goes in with 
a subscription to raise money for his widow and orphans, 
he gives very willingly and liberally, too — all the way from 
$1 to $25. 

No one blames him ior robbing the man, but all praise 
his liberality. Such men as these give very liberally in 
churches when they are trying to raise money to pay off 
debts of the church. They are called good, liberal people ; 
and so they are, as far as giving is concerned. 

I speak from experience, for no person in Virginia City 
ever went out with more subscription papers than I have 
unless it was my friend, Mrs. Beck. I think I learned it of her. 

I never saw her equal (and do not believe she has any on 
earth) for hunting up the suffering and sick, and alleviating 
their wants. Many are the times she has sent me word to 
come and spend the evening with her, and when I got there 
she would have a basket and bundle so large she was 
ashamed to carry them through the streets by daylight, 
and so sent for me to go with her, after dark, to some out- 
of-the-way place, perhaps a good mile off, to a destitute 
family. 

Well, I never refused to go with her, no matter how tired 
I was, for I knew she was equally as tired. She did more 
work in a day than any other three women in the place, 
after leaving out two. 

Some called me her shadow, others said she was my 
" right bower ; " but I think she was the " queen of hearts." 
I never saw a lady who had a bigger heart, or one more 
capable of feeling for the poor. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 177 

She has often had such large bundles of clothes over 
which she has spent her time to make for children, that we 
' had to put them into a large clothes-basket, and carry it 
between us. Many such a load we have carried after ten 
and eleven o'clock at night, so that we would not meet so 
many people. 

Sometimes we have found people way up on the mount- 
ain-side nearly frozen, their houses being nearly snowed 
under in some of our sudden storms, and nothing in their 
house to eat. 

I remember on one Sunday morning we found three 
families in this condition on the mountain-side, and we could 
get nothing from the relief committee that day, so she went 
to her private store-house, and filled three large baskets, 
and a man from one of the houses came for one, and she 
and I took the other two and went and relieved their pres- 
ent wants. 

The next day we called on the treasurer of the relief 
committee, and laid the case before him. He turned to 
Mrs. Beck, and said : " You just go around and hunt up poor 
folks on purpose, and there is no need of it. We are nearly 
out of funds." 

She told him she could not help that, he must give her 
$20 for each family. He did so, and we got the merchant 
from whom we bought the goods to take up the load. We 
went along to see that each family got the right things. 
We received $5 of the order in money, and bought some 
shoes and stockings and flannels for the children. 

On some of the coldest days we have ever had there she 
has had me out, for these were the days she always took. 
She said they were the days they would be most apt to 
suffer. 

I think she gave from $600 to $700 every year, for be- 
nevolent purposes, from her own pocket, besides as much 
more that she collected. Then there was the time she gave 



!I78 Tc7i Years in Nevada. 

to running around and hunting up these cases. She would 
sit up many nights till twelve o'clock making over clothes 
for children, for she said if she gave the garments to the 
people as they were, it was ten to one if they ever made 
them over. She used to say that half of the women had 
not sense enough to make over any garment, and it was no 
use to give it unless it w^as made over and mended. 

1 think she spent one-half of her time in the interest of 
the poor. 

At the time of the big fire a widow was burned out near 
Mrs. Beck's. Mrs. Beck and another lady went around and 
collected money to buy lumber to build her a house. They 
got the principal part, as far as the money would go, then 
she made up the balance from her own lumber pile. She 
then wanted nails and spikes, and they went around 'again. 
They came to my house to see what I would give. I had 
a lot of nails left from my house. I gave her these, and 
she took them right along, and said they w^ere as good as 
money, and she carried about ten pounds of nails over half 
a mile to the woman. She got a man to put up the house 
and finish it ; and afterwards the woman showed her 
gratitude by trying to cheat her out of several feet of 
ground. 

It often seemed to me she bestowed charity on very un- 
grateful objects, but she seemed to enjoy giving to the poor 
more than they did in receiving it. It seemed to be pleasure 
above all other enjoyments for her. 

She was a great church-going woman, but did not hesi- 
tate to attend any place of social amusement that was not 
detrimental to good morals. 

She enjoyed a lecture, theater, ball, or party as well as 
any lady in Virginia City. She always had her family go 
to everything that came along of any importance, and not 
only her family, but I have known her to have eight or ten 
in a drove, taking them to some place of amusement. It 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 179 

was people who could not afford to go that she took in, 
iilvvajs footing the whole bill. 

I never made a practice of going to theaters if I owed a 
debt, for I thought my money did not belong to me as long 
as I owed a cent, and I could never be coaxed into going. 
I would let my child go, for I knew his young days were 
his best, and would be more capable of enjoying it than 
when older; and Mrs. Beck, knowing that I deprived ray- 
self of pleasure to meet my debts, would either send mc a 
ticket or come after me to go with her and the children, as 
her husband was always in the store till late ; and alwa3's 
after the theater would go to a restaurant, and there the 
whole crowd of us would have lunch. If I offered to pay, or 
even attempted to pay my own part, she would not allow it. 
She was the smallest by nearly a head, but she was " boss " 
most of the time. 

I do not think I would ever have enjoyed my life in Vir- 
ginia City as I did had it not been for her. She was as 
lively and affectionate as she was generous; and would 
make fun for one person, or for twenty. One could not 
help having a good time where she w^as. 

We used often go to Silver City. We would walk down 
and ride back — a distance of five miles. We would walk 
races, and run races, and I could beat her on the race, no 
matter which kind, every time. 

We used to go to a great many picnics, especiall}- the 
California picnics, for they had all sorts of athletic sports 
going on, which we always enjoyed. Both ladies and gen- 
tlemen took an active part in these sports. She and I used 
to shoot at the bull's-eye, or knock the pipe from the mouth 
of the wooden soldier, and sometimes scale his nose and 
■win our "two bits," or hit the swinging man and win the 
cigars. 

We always enjo3^ed the picnics, as all the Virginia City 
people did. There were generally from two to four a week, 



tSo Ten Years in Nevaela. 

from May to October, every church and society having- 
one, and all the military companies. 

I do not think it possible for any other city to have more 
different societies than Virginia City. Every society has a 
lodge, and some of them, like the Masons, Odd Fellows, 
and Champions of the Red Cross, have branch lodges of 
different degrees. Some members have taken all the de- 
grees, and belong to all the lodges, while others have taken 
but one and two degrees. 

I think these are the only three lodges that have degrees. 
The "Champions" is a life insurance and temperance so- 
ciety — I think one of the finest temperance orders ever 
started. Its regalia is very handsome, being black 
velvet, trimmed with silver bullion fringe and lace. The 
aprons have a red cross in the center, and if you are 'a de- 
gree member, your apron has as many stars attached to the 
cross as you have taken degrees. (I have taken all the de- 
grees ot this order.) Officers have also wide velvet sashes, 
with solid silver emblems. Some of the lady ofiticers wear 
ribbon scarfs of red, white, and blue. 

I joined this lodge when it first opened, and was a mem- 
ber until I left. So was my son. I never enjoyed any place 
while in Virginia City as I did in the lodge-room of the 
Sons and Daughters of Temperance, and the Champions of 
the Red Cross. 

Some of our best and smartest citizens belonged to the 
temperance societies. The Good Templars and the Band 
of Hope are also well represented. 

There were other secret societies— the Knights of Pythias^ 
the Order of the Red Men, and Anti-Chinamen. The largest 
order, I think, is the Miners' Union. It is a very large and 
well-organized society, and about the richest society, too. 
It has a large brick building, one-half of which -it nearly 
always rents to the other societies. The lower hall it 
uses itself. It forms a larger procession than any 



Life oil the Facific Coast. i8i 

other one order, unless it is the unjiaid fire department of 
Virginia City. Before it disbanded, I think its procession 
was a full quarter of a mile long. 

The miners are the hardest working people of Virginia 
City, for they not only work physically but mentally, hav- 
ing to be constantly on their guard for fear of accidents. 
It is a constant strain upon their nervous system. It is 
really the biggest part of their work. 

If I were a man, I would rather work for 50 cents a day 
on the surface than for $4 a day thousands of feet below. 
And getting this paltry sum is begrudged them by capi- 
talists. 

This society has done more to keep up Virginia City 
than all the other societies combined, for it keeps up the 
price of the white laborer. 

If wages go down lower than thej' now are, the prices of 
provisions and dry goods of every description will have to 
fall, too, or miners cannot possibly live ; and if provisions 
and dry goods go down, railroad companies will have to 
come down on their rates (which, by-the-way, are at present 
enormous, and ought to be looked after by the Govern- 
ment); if they are not reduced — and wages are in Virginia 
City — people will be obliged to move away, as everything 
used in the city, either to eat, drink, or wear, is imported 
from some other State. 

So you see, if wages are lowered, Virginia City will go 
to naught, and be abandoned. 

The Miners' Union Society works both for right and 
might. 

They work hard for their little old $4 a day, and they 
mean to have it, although they have to fight for it. I do 
not think they will ever work for less, nor will they let the 
Chinaman do so. They do not use their money rigging 
out their members in gaudy trappings. They have a simple 
badge, of about four or five inches, of blue ribbon fastened 



1 82 Ten Years in Nevada. 

to the lappel of their coats. I think there is something- 
printed on it, but I have not been near enough to them tO' 
see, as I have only seen it in the procession ; but they are 
an organization to be proud of. 

The military companies of Virginia City are perfectly 
magnificent in their dress parades. I do not know the names 
of but few of them — the National Guards, Washington 
Guards, Irish Brigade. The Emmett Guards is a grand 
company, and its members look splendid in their blue suits 
and dark green feathers. They all have lovely costumes,, 
and make a grand show. 

The fire department of Virginia City is, and always has 
been, a grand success. Before the fire of '75 it was com- 
posed of six large companies, named from No. i to No. 6. 
Nos. '3 and 4 were situated on B Street ; Nos. 2, 5, and 6 on 
C Street. They were all good, large companies. One could 
hardly tell which had the finest turn-out, but I think No. 6 
generally took the lead. 

After the big fire the city bought out all the companies 
but No. 6. This company still holds its independence, and, 
I have heard, is generally ahead of the paid department. 

My cousin held the office of chief for nearly two years 
before the fire. He had some brilliant bonfires while he 
Avas in office the first year; but it was generally acknowl- 
edged by the citizens not to be his fault, but the city's, for 
not providing water. But after the big fire he succeeded 
in getting hydrants put in every street in the city, at cer- 
tain distances apart. They also got more water tanks — 
quite a large number of them — and lire hose houses put up 
near most of the hydrants, with plenty of hose. 

He had often told the board of aldermen it needed 
these things, but it seemed to think it an extra expense. 
But after it had lost thousands of dollars of private 
property, besides all the city had lost, it awoke up to the 
reality and necessity of these things, and he had his way. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 183 

A few blamed him for the fire, but all the sound-minded 
men said nothing but a cloud bursting could have saved 
Virginia City, as it took fire at five o'clock in the morning, 
and the water was turned off. 

The Virginia City Water Company always turned the 
water off at five or six o'clock in the afternoon, and did not 
turn it on till six, or after, in the morning, just as it hap- 
pened ; but after the city was burned it was not allowed 
to turn it off. 

That morning it had not been turned on, and they had 
to go off several miles on the mountain and turn it on be- 
fore they could get water enough to save the city. The 
fire had got a good headway, for the water in the few 
cisterns on the main streets was soon used. up. 

Had the water been turned on, nearly every private 
house could have been saved, especially where they stood 
in yards by themselves, for nearly all had rubber hose to 
attach to their pipes. 

This would certainly have backened the flames till the 
engines could have reached them. 

As it was, the city was half burned before the engines 
could get water. Some of the engines were burned in the 
streets. 

Well, after everything was over, the city thought it would 
be less expensive to pay the firemen, and they made new- 
arrangements, my cousin retaining his place as chief unlil 
he got everything about the fire department in perfect 
order, except the telephone arrangement. That, I believe. 
Chief Brown, his successor, has put in shape. I think the 
ex-chief shook the bush, and caught the bird, for about a 
month after he came in office, I read a notice something 
like this : " Chief Brown has succeeded in getting the fire 
department in perfect working order. He can blow a little 
whistle on C Street, and arouse his department on B 
Street." 



1 84 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I heard several speak of his getting the credit of the 
work done, but he said the books showed who did it. 

I think my cousin must have been something of a favorite, 
for while in office he received from the fire department a 
solid silver trumpet, nearly a yard in length, handsomely 
ornamented, with his name engraved on one side (which I 
was told by several of the company cost $ioo), as a token 
of respect to its chief. He also received a handsome 
silver lantern. The globe was handsomely embossed glass, 
with the words " Frank McNair " on one side, and "Chief " 
on the other. 

The Virginia City Water Company has its office on 
B Street. In early days it gathered the water from old 
tunnels and passed it into large tanks. But in the List few 
years it has laid a pipe from a lake situated in the Sierra 
Mountains and brought the water over the top of Mt. 
Davidson into Virginia City. 

This plan was first suggested by one Pinchshaw, a Jew, 
who was said to be about half crazy. When he proposed 
bringing the water to the city in this way, he was pro- 
nounced wholly insane, and people went about the streets 
laughing at his wild fancy of bringing water forty miles 
in pipes ; but three years later the company had pipes laid, 
and brought the water in precisely the same manner as he 
would have done could he have got assistance. 

The company has $i a week for water from small fami- 
lies ; from larger houses, hotels, restaurants, etc., it has 
much larger sums. Laundries, saloons, and the city have to 
pay it very high rates for water. My house used to 
bring $12 for each month, and the third month $15. It 
vou have a dozen houses, and you have them all empty, 
you will have to pay the water bill just the same as if 3-ou 
were using water every day in all of them, unless you go 
and beg and plead with it, then it may give you the 
water on one house, and charge you for the other eleven. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 185 

If you have but seven, it will charge you for six and let 
the other go free. It will try to make you think it 
has done something very magnanimous, when, in fact, you 
have to pay this or have the pipes cut off ; and when your 
house is again filled, you have to pay $5 to have the pipes 
attached. So in either case it gets your money. 

At this way of doing business it is no wonder that the 
heads of the company can afford to take the money they 
have wrung from the hands and hearts of the poor people, 
and spend it in Paris and London, and marry their children 
to noblemen. 

It is no wonder there are so many poor people in America 
Avhen capitalists gather up the gold and silver by the mill- 
ions, and take it to foreign countries to enrich themselves, 
instead of leaving a part of it where they make it. 

I think the people of Virginia City ought to do some- 
thing to compel the water company to stop this very unjust 
act of cutting pipes, or compelling poor people to pay for 
what they never had. It is a shame for the city to 
allow it. 

The people of Virginia City are great gamblers. Two- 
thirds of the city gamble. The gambling dens are per- 
fectly magnificent in style. They are gotten up to attract 
people to them. Some are kept very orderly, while others 
are not. 

They have a very good law in Virginia City to prevent 
3'ouug men from gambling. Every young man under 
twenty-one years of age is prohibited ; and if he is al- 
lowed to gamble in any saloon, the proprietors can be held 
accountable for the act. But it lacks good othcers to put 
the law in force, for half of the boys from twelve to twenty- 
one in the city gamble. It is astonishing how this law is 
violated by nearly everybody. Boys from twelve to fifteen 
have already acquired such a passion for gambling that 
they will pawn any article of jewelry in their possession, 



1 86 Ten Years in Nevada. 

such as rings, pins, sleeve-buttons, and even their sister's 
gold watch and chain. 

I knew one of the finest boys in Virginia City to do this, 
so great was his appetite for gambling. And yet their 
parents will not put the law in force. 

At one time, when my son was but twelve years old, he 
had just drawn his wages, and was on his way home from 
the Chronicle office. Some of his mates called him to a 
child's gambling den. They had what they called a stick 
game, 1 believe. They bought a stick of candy for $i, with 
the inducement held out to them that they might get $3 or 
$4 wrapped up with the stick. 

The proprietor had been there about three months swind- 
ling the boys in town out of all the money they, could 
get. He had let some boy win $5. This was enough to 
set every boy wild with the hope of gain. Charlie had $14. 
He went in and bought one stick, but lost, and, like older 
gamblers, wanted to win it back. He bought another, and 
lost again. He then got excited, and bought until he lost 
$8. He then turned and fled from the place, for 
fear ot losing the rest of his money, for the man kept 
telling him to try again — he might gain the next time, 
perhaps. 

He came home and laid his money on the table by me, 
and said : " Mamma, I have done something awful ; I have 
been gambling." 

I asked him where. He told me the place, and how 
much he had lost. I told him to come with me. I went to 
the den and told the man to refund the $8 to my child. He 
denied ever seeing him, and ordered me out. 

I told him I would go, but I would come again with a 
power he did not dare to disobey. 

I then went to the district attorney, Mr.Thomas Stephens, 
and asked him if there was not a law to protect children 
from beinof swindled. I stated the case to him. He said 



Life oji the Pacific Coast. 187 

there was, and he would sec that they were protected every 
time. There was a complaint made to him. 

He wrote a note to the person having the den, ordering 
him to refund the money to Charlie, and also to the other 
boys he had robbed, or he would have him in the lock-up 
before four o'clock. It was now about eleven. 

I took the note and went back. As I entered the build- 
ing-, I said : You see I have kept my word. Here is my 
authority. 

He took the note and read it, and, turning to Charlie, 
said : " Come in here and get your money." 

He went in the office part, and I heard him say to Charlie 
as he counted out the money : " You d — d fool, what made 
you tell your mother? If I ever catch you around here 
again, I will kick you out ! " 

"You may," said Charlie, "if you catch me here again." 

As we came out of the office, I told him it would not be 
very healthy for him to touch my boy, and it would also be 
well for him to refund the money to the other boys before 
the time expired. I told him I would know whether he 
did or not, for I was well acquainted with them all. 

About four o'clock I happened to pass that way, and the 
place was empty. He had packed up and left town, as he 
probably had no idea of refunding the money he had swin- 
dled the boys out of. He saw by the note that Mr. Stephens 
meant business. And he did. By his promptness in this 
case, Virginia City was minus one villain. He was never 
heard of there again. 

Virginia Cit}' is a very hard city in which to bring up 
children, for all classes drink, high and low. The}^ keep 
beer by the keg, and wine and other spirits by the case, in 
their houses. Nearly all play and gamble. Two-thirds 
swear, and the other third uses by-words of every kind — 
some very laughable ones — while others use coarse and 
rougfh ones. 



1 88 Ten Years in Nevada. 

It seemed very odd to me to hear people in the best 
social circles ol society in the city betting their " bottom 
dollar," or their " loose change," or "your sweet life," or 
"all your stock that is not in soak," and such like expres- 
sions in large assemblies of people. Yet it was never no- 
ticed any more than if you had said " Thank you," for nearly 
everybody uses by-words. 

I do not think anyone ever enjoys life better than they 
do. When they go an)'-where, which is every night in the 
week, they go for a good time, and they manage to have it, 
too. 

The ladies, as a class, never allow anything to prevent 
their going anywhere they wish to. Sick children and sick 
friends never keep them. Of course there are exceptions; 
but if they can get anyone to take care of them, they are 
off to the theater or dance. 

The men are just as bad. They will bury a friend in the 
afternoon, and go to a dance the same night. 

If persons die, they will bury them in style. The funerals 
in Virginia City are conducted differently, and are superior 
to a'ny I ever witnessed, and also larger than I ever saw in 
any other place. 

Nearly every man and woman is a member of some 
lodge, and generally of three or four — not unfrequently of 
seven and eight different organizations. If he or she is a 
Mason or Sister of Rebekah, then that order takes the lead, 
then the Odd Fellows ; then the Knights of Pythias, Pio- 
neers, temperance orders, military companies, and so on, 
the company of which he is a member following first. 

If he is a member of the Miners' Union or Mechanics' 
Union, large bodies — or at least one-third — of them turn out. 
If he is a member of the fire department, then each com- 
pany turns out, the company to which he belongs following 
first. The society he chooses generally takes charge of the 
body, and it is taken to its hall. It is buried from the 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 189 

hall or church, seldom ever from the house. It is a very 
imposing sight to see one of these funeral processions, ex- 
tending from one end of C Street to the other. Some of 
them have as large processions as ever turn out on the 
Fourth of July (our great national day), which is the 
greatest day in the year to a resident of Virginia City. It 
does not seem to make any difference with foreigners, as 
they all seem to enjoy it alike. 

I suppose it is because the people of every nation living 
there have their own national day, and are allowed to cele- 
brate and enjoy it as well as we do ours, and are never 
molested. 

All have grand processions passing through the streets, 
but none can compare with our glorious Fourth, for then 
every order turns out to its last member. 

Let me give you a description of our Centennial Fourth, 
a day long to be remembered, not only by the people of 
the United States, but especially by the citizens of 
Virginia City. I do not think it possible for any other 
city in the United States to present a better turn-out 
than did V^irginia City and Gold Hill on. our Centennial 
Fourth. 

It was a lovely day, and not very sultry. The sky was 
clear, and the sun shone out in all its splendor, as if in 
honor to the day. 

The procession commenced forming at eight o'clock on 
B Street, the military companies being first in full dress 
parade ; then came the Masons in every order, and in their 
different styles and colors of regalia ; the Knight Templars, 
Order of Red Men, and so on. 

Their regalias were trimmed with gold and silver fringe, 
from an inch to one finger in length — the best bullion fringe, 
and lace to match. 

Beautiful solid silver and gold emblems ornamented their 
badges and regalias. 



190 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Then came the Odd Fellows with their lovely regalias, 
and their different lodges. 

Next came the Miners' Union, then the noble firemen 
with all their carriages of state, each one containing a young 
girl dressed as a Goddess of Libert}^ and each one trying 
to outdo the other. Their dresses were made of red, white, 
and blue ribbon, a quarter of a yard wide, stitched together 
with ribbons that would stand alone. 

Sometimes a little boy, dressed as an old man, occupied 
the seat ; but the beautiful canopies that covered their 
heads were made of silk flags and wreaths of artificial 
flowers, some of these wreaths costing from $5 to $15. 
There were six of these carriages. Their engines were 
also as bright as scouring could make them, and trimmed 
with beautiful, expensive flowers ; and every fireman who 
carried a trumpet had it tucked under his arm, with an ele- 
gant bouquet placed in the head. 

After this came each company following its own carriage. 

Next to this came the chariot carrying Columbus. The 
carriage was very handsomely ornamented, and his cos- 
tume was very ancient. 

Next to this was the carriages containing the girls who 
represented the States, all dressed in white, with ribbon 
sashes of every description, all waving banners and flags, 
and singing the " Star Spangled Banner." 

Then the next team was a printing press, throwing out 
its papers, *as it went along, to the people following the 
procession. 

After the press came a quartz-mill ; after which a repre- 
sentation of miners working the drill in the mines. They 
were dressed in overalls and shoes and miners' caps. This 
W' as all the dress they wore in some of the mines. They do 
not even wear as much as this. 

A company of Indians were also in the procession, 
dressed in battle costume, paint, and feathers. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 191 

The " Horribles " brought up the rear. The " Horribles " 
are the same that the Eastern people call " Fantastics," only 
both animals and men are represented, being the most gro- 
tesque objects ever witnessed. 

I was told the procession occupied three streets. 
Nearly every Yankee invention of any consequence was 
represented in the procession. 

This celebration was very expensive to the cit}' as well 
as private individuals. 

After the procession was formed they marched down 

Sutton Avenue to C Street, then up C Street to the Divide. 

In front of the Chollar office the oration was delivered; also 

some very fine speeches from several of our smartest citizens. 

They then marched down B Street to the court-house. 

All the people in the city not in the procession were on 

the balconies of the buildings on B and C Streets, or on the 

sidewalks, following the procession. 

After the procession disbanded, free dinners, given by 
the different organizations, were in order. 

The fire department had a dinner such as it alwaj^s 
gets up. It never calculates to be outdone on its suppers 
by any other organization. 

The most of the people then went home for a little rest 
before the evening entertainments commenced. 

There were two or three balls that night, and fire-works. 
That day and night passed off very pleasantly without a 
single accident, and by five o'clock the entire city was 
wrapped in slumber, except the watchmen. The balls did 
not hold as late as common, the people being tired out with 
the public exercises. 

The Centennial Fourth was voted a grand success b}^ 
everybody. 

There were no spirits sold in the city on that day. They 
never sell any on the Fourth ; and if a man is caught intoxi- 
cated on the street, he is put in the lock-up. 



192 Ten Years in Nevada. 

No one dares to sell it ; but men who are bound to have 
it, get it the day before. They are not allowed to sell it on 
election or town-meeting days ; and if an Indian is ever 
caught intoxicated, he has to tell who sold the liquor to 
him, and whoever he is, he has to suffer the penalty of the 
law. 

As I have said before, there are a great many gambling 
saloons, and about two-thirds of the male inhabitants are 
gamblers. 

There is no city in the States so given to this vice as Vir- 
ginia City. St. Louis can't begin with Virginia City for 
gambling and drinking. 

It is an every-day occurrence to see men, and even women,. 
Iving on the sidewalk, or policemen dragging them off to 
the station-house. Sometimes well-dressed and respectable- 
looking people arc found in this awful condition. 

I heard a friend say he saw a woman who had once been 
one of the aristocracy of the city, but who had given way 
to this disgusting habit until she would lie down on the 
sidewalk anywhere, waiting for some one to pick her up- 
He saw her in this condition about twelve o'clock one night. 
He tried to get her up ; told her it was no place for her,, 
when she said : " It is best for everybody to go right along. 
Let everybody enjoy themselves as they have a mind to." 

"But," said he, "you will freeze here ! " 

" Well, never mind," said she ; "it's my pie." 

" Well," said he, " it won't be yours by morning ; you may 
have to eat bread and water." 

" Well, that's good enough, so you enjoy it," said she. 

As she could not be persuaded, he went on and left her,, 
entered a saloon, and took a drink himself. He needn't 
deny it, for I know he did. 

How do I know he did ? 

Reader, did you ever know a man that went around with 
his mouth and pockets full of spices and brandy smashers 



Life 0)1 the Pacific Coast. 193. 

who did not drink at every bar he came to ? and the more 
highly perfumed his breath, the greater amount of whisky 
he can drink ? 

Well, I was speaking of saloons. They are kept open all 
night, and some are never shut. Where there is a partner, 
one keeps open through the day, and the other the night. 
If any one of them is ever shut, it is early in the morning 
\\'hen the miners have gone to work on the seven o'clock 
shift, and those who are off work at that time are gone tO' 
bed, and the citizens who have been up all night in the 
drinking and gambling saloons have also gone home. There 
is no one left to sell to except the policemen, who have 
got enough by this time to last them till the doors are 
opened. Under these circumstances they can afford to shut 
up for three hours ; but that is about as long as any of 
them are closed in a day. 

There are more spirits drank here, taking all kinds, than 
in the Eastern cities. 

There are a great many killed in these saloons; but it is 
very seldom that the deed is committed by the owners. It 
is done by those who are made insane by spirits or by 
heavy losses. 

Another thing which is a disgrace to Virginia City. 
]Many of the men support more women than the law 
allows them. They live after the Salt Lake style, only 
they are not as honorable as old Brigham was, for he mar- 
ried all his wives according to his religion. Here they 
marry but one, and the unmarried ones are always dressed 
the richest. 

This class of women is alwa3's very kind-hearted, and 
gives liberally to any charitable purpose, and is always 
ready to assist the poor and suffering. It seems as if they 
wish to atone for their many sins by doing all they can 
by way of charity, for " charity covereth a multitude of 
sins." 



13 



194 Ten Years in Nevada. 

There is a large class of these poor, misguided people in 
Virginia City. Sometimes a good citizen, wealthy and re- 
spectable, marries his wife from some one of these corrupt 
houses, and he seldom ever regrets his choice. He builds 
her up to be respected and respectable. I have heard of 
several cases. More of such men would make Virginia 
City better. 

There are churches here of every denomination, except 
the Universalist. All have their own churches except the 
Unitarians or Liberalists, as they term themselves. They 
hold their services at the National Guard Hall. Each 
church is well filled every Sunday. 

The Catholic Church is a magnificent brick building, and 
richly as well as handsomely decorated with fine oil paint- 
ings, engravings, and statuary. They had a very fine 
one burned. They have built the present one since the 
fire. 

The Episcopalians and Methodists were also burned out. 
These three churches are situated on Taylor Street, below 
D Street. 

The Baptists have their church on the east side of C 
Street, while the Presbyterians have theirs on the west side, 
nearly opposite. 

National Guard Hall is on Smith Street. 

The China "Josh House " is in Chinatown. 

I do not know where the Jews hold their meetings, but 
somewhere in the north end of the city. 

After all of these crowded churches are out, most of the 
men go off to their work, unless it is those who have money 
enough to hire their work done. 

As far as work is concerned, there is no Sabbath there. 
The mills, mines, and machine-shops are always going. 

You will see all sorts of teaming going on the same as 
any other day — sixteen mule or horse-teams hauling quartz, 
wood, or coal through the streets, just as it happens. 



Life on the Pacific Const. 195 

While you are listening to the sermon you can also hear 
the snap of the whip, or the oaths ot the driver as he beats 
his poor beasts, who are stuck in the mud, on Taylor Street, 
in front of the churches. 

All through the winter and spring it is ver}^ muddy on 
this street, as the upper pai"t of the street is in a ravine, 
near INIt. Davidson, and takes the whole drainage off the 
mountain. 

The saloons are all open the same as any other day. 
Yes, these whisky mills have to run as well as the quartz 
mills, which they cannot afford to shut down. It costs too 
much, they say, to get them started again. This is their 
excuse for never shutting them down. 

A person passing through Virginia City would imagine 
he had lost the day of the week, when he sees ten or fifteen 
quartz wagons, and as many more of wood and freight, and 
the constant sound of the pumps and engines, and the run- 
ning to and fro of freight-cars, which are being loaded and 
unloaded — it is enough to make anyone forget the da}- of 
the week. 

The people of Virginia City are more dressy than any 
place I ever lived in. I candidly believe many of them go 
to church simply to show their fine costumes. 

I have said that Virginia City had nice buildings, but did 
not tell you how many of them are finished off. Before the 
fire there were but few houses, except the brick and stone, 
that were plastered. They are all ceiled overhead with fine 
ceiling. The sides are rough-boarded with coarse factory 
sewed together, and tacked on, being stretched very tightly. 
These cloth walls are then papered the same as we do our 
hard-finished walls of the East. A cheap house is finished 
overhead with cloth ceiling. Some of them whitewash it 
overhead instead of papering it. Some nail strips of boards 
an inch wide, every three teet apart, to hold the cloth from 
sagging. 



196 Toi Years in Nevada. 

Go into such a house, and you will imagine it a first-class 
house, so nice and cozy it appears. But you just sit there 
till one of those gentle breezes called "Washoe zephyrs," 
of which Virginia City is so famous, sweeps down the 
mountain-side, and you will be surprised to see the walls 
flap back and forth, and the whole walls literally alive with 
moving mirrors and pictures, especially where a family 
group of cabinet-size pictures are hanging — have theni 
all moving at the same time, and you imagine your- 
self surrounded by spirits. I remember the first time 
I witnessed such a scene I was very much alarmed. I was 
at the house of John Mackey, and also on the third day 
after I landed in Virginia City. It was in Mrs. Hunger- 
ford's sitting-room. I was all alone with my child. While 
I was sewing, I heard a rustling like the trailing of a silk 
skirt. . I looked around to see who had entered the room, 
but saw nothing. I went on with my sewing, but soon 
heard it again. I looked again, with no better success ; but 
the third time I stopped sewing, determined to see if it was 
a person or a ghost, when Charlie, who had been watching, 
too, discovered the pictures moving, and cried out: " O, 
mamma, the house is going to tumble down ! Look 
there ! " 

1 looked in the direction he had pointed, and there every- 
thing on the walls were swinging. At first I did not notice 
the cloth, and wondered what could make it. If I had been 
a spiritualist, I should have thought the spirits had taken 
possession of the house ; but I was not, and naturally 
thought it w^as an earthquake, especially when I saw the 
walls all bulging out. Springing up, I caught Chadie in 
my arms, and ran down stairs. I met Mary, the cook, and 
told her the walls were tumbling in up stairs. She ran up 
stairs, and soon returned laughing, and said it was only the 
cloth on the walls. I went back up stairs satisfied it must 
be as she had said, or I should have heard a crash. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 197 

I went and examined the walls, and found they were com- 
mon rough boards, first covered with cloth tacked on, then 
papered over, and the wind getting behind them, blew the 
cloth out from the wall until it struck the backs of the pict- 
ures, and this set them to swinging; but it was truly a 
ghostly sight, for they swung to and fro, the different 
shades and shadows on the faces making them look very 
ghastly. 

Houses made like this burn more readily than hard- 
finished houses, and since the fire they ceil a great many 
overhead instead of putting up cloth. The reason of their 
building the houses in this cheap way is because they have 
so many fires that they cannot afford to put up the best 
kind of a house to rent, and then get burned out. 

People who rent out their real estate in Virginia City 
get but little returns in comparison to the expenses of re- 
pairs, county and city taxes, water bills, and other city ex- 
penses. Then they have no good laws to protect them 
against bad debts. If a man has nothing to pay 3'ou with, 
you cannot turn him out without a notice ; and if he chooses, 
he can stay until he gets another house, and if he does not 
tr}'- to obtain another house, it is all the same, for you will 
have to wait. At least lawyers have told me so. 

I will now leave Virginia City and its inhabitants alone 
for a time, and describe to the reader the towns about Vir- 
ginia City. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Gold Hill — American Flat — Silver City — Dayton — Sutro — Carson City — Em- 
pire City. 

fWILL now give you a description of Gold Hill. It is 
situated, like Virginia City, in a ravine, the main street 
being in the center of the ravine, and the streets climbing 
the mountain-sides on either side of it. It is very compact, 
having but little room to build. The top streets are three 
and four hundred feet above Main Street. Nearly all the 
business is done on this street. It is the longest street in 
the place. It has closed up with the Divide, which unites 
Gold Hill and Virginia City, and extends along the road to 
Silver City for a long ways, and is called Lower Gold Hill, 
it being as thickly settled as any part of the place. Main 
Street gets all the drainage from the hill-sides and from the 
Divide on the north, and is certainly the filthiest street for 
a city I ever saw. Persons always have to hold their nose 
while passing through there on a warm day. I have heard 
many people ot Virginia City complain of it, yet the Gold 
Hill people do not seem to mind it. I suppose it is because 
they are used to it. For all of their filth, it is generally 
very healthy. It has some very fine buildings, especially 
its school-buildings, of which it is very proud ; and it 
has a right to be, for they are fine three-story buildings, 
several in one collection, and a nice large yard, but no trees. 
American Flat, to the south of Gold Hill, was once laid 
out for a city. It has a very fine site for one, being a very 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 199 

large, level plain, SLirrounded by hills on every side. I 
think it has been some day a large lake, but by some earth- 
quake or other cause of nature, it has been drained, and is 
now a beautiful Hat. 

There are not at present many buildings there, many of 
them having been moved away, while others have gone to 
ruin. 

They found the mines at this place did not pay, there 
being so much base metal mixed with the ore, and for a 
time the mines were abandoned. Then the people moved 
away, some taking their houses with them, while others 
were left vacant, and soon went to ruin. 

At the present time many of the mines are being worked 
with new machinery. The machinery of early days was 
not of sufficient power to crush the ore. 

This is why so many of the inhabitants moved off. At 
present several good mines are in working order. 

Silver City is two miles from Gold Hill, to the south-east. 
When I first visited it, it was quite a smart town. It is also 
built in a ravine, and is a great milling town, but it is fast 
going to seed. Where once stood boarding-houses and 
mills, now stand ruins of old stone buildings, all grown 
over with sage-brush. The place has been visited by many 
destructive fires. 

In going from Gold Hill to Silver City you pass through 
the Devil's Gate No. 2, so named from the projecting rocks, 
or after the man who owned the toll-gate, which was situ- 
ated at that point. I am sure I do not know which. 

Dayton, seven miles further down the ravine, is a pleasant 
little town. It is well watered by running streams. Nearly 
ever}- person has his own well. Here they raise trees and 
flowers, everybody having his own garden. It is the 
county seat of Lyons County. Being visited b}'' many de- 
structive hres, it is not at present in a very flourishing con- 
dition. 



200 Ten Years in Nevada. 

The inhabitants are ver}' quiet. I never heard of a fight 
during the three months I was there. 

Sutro is a smart little town, which seems to be going 
ahead of all the other places around it. It has sprung up 
in the last seven years under the influence of Mr, Adolphus 
Sutro, a very smart, shrewd, energetic gentleman. He is 
the founder and owner of the far-famed Sutro tunnel. He 
does not seem to know the definition of but two words in 
the English language. The words are "I can't," and ''you 
shan't." His mottoes seem to be : " Go ahead," and 
'' Nothing shall stop me." 

• Some eight years ago he conceived the plan of running 
a tunnel into Mt. Davidson, under Virginia City, and drain- 
ing the mines. The tunnel is thousands of feet below the 
city,and is seven or eight miles in length, and perhaps longer. 

He met with opposition on all sides. Large mine and mill- 
owners opposed him bitterly, and but very few in Virginia 
City gave him encouragement. He was obliged to go to 
other cities and countries for assistance. 

San Francisco offered him some assistance, but much 
opposition. He then applied to the Government at Wash- 
ington. It gave him a patent, and assisted him to a certain 
extent. He then visited Europe, and got rich capitalists to 
assist him. When he got everything arranged to suit him, 
he pushed his work ahead very rapidly. He was to have 
$2 royalty on every ton of ore taken from the mines after 
his tunnel was completed, no matter whether taken through 
his tunnel or by the hoisting works of the mines. He was 
to have all new ledges he discovered while digging it. I 
do not remember the whole of the contract. Well, after 
he had pushed ahead and got it nearly ready to drain the 
mines, some of the companies tried to back out of the con- 
ti-act ; at least I judge so by the papers. But I believe he 
has held them to their contract, and the mines are now be- 
ing drained of their immense quantities of hot water. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 201 

He went to a great deal of expense, trouble, and labor, 
but finally succeeded. I hope and trust he will reap the 
benefit of his industry. If there were more men like him 
in Virginia City, the place would be better off. 

I think, with many others, he is the best progressive man 
on the Comstock. If he had become discouraged and 
dropped his plans after a few years, some of the rich min- 
ing capitalists would have taken up his plan and carried it 
out as he has done — just as the water company took up Mr. 
Pinchshaw's plan of bringing the water over the mountain. 

But he did not happen to be one of the giving-up kind, 
consequently he, instead of another, is enjoying the benefit 
of his industry. 

Carson City is the capital of the State. It is a very 
pleasant, quiet town, there being no mines or mills near it. 
It is well watered by Carson River, and other little streams. 
Here everybody has fruit, flowers, and gardens. Every- 
one has a well, and seems to live and enjoy life. It is a good 
business place. 

It is a favorite resort for picnics from Virginia City and 
Gold Hill. These two places unite in all their public enter- 
tainments. 

The Capitol and Orphan Asylum are splendid buildings. 
The State Prison is also here, but several miles out of the 
city. The Mint is a very large, fine brick building of three 
or four stories. It is quite a sight to one who goes through 
it for the first time. 

Governor Blasdel's residence was a fine old place, well 
shaded wnth trees. 

Carson City is about eighteen or twenty miles from Vir- 
ginia City. There is a good stage road, also a railroad, 
which was built some three years after I went to Virginia 
City. It is called " Sharon's Crooked Railroad." It has 
six or seven tunnels. I think the road is just double the 
lensfth of the old stasrc road. 



202 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Senator Sharon is one of the best men that ever lived in 
Virginia City. He had a heart for every poor person wha 
went to him, and I think most of his charities were given 
in secret. I have been to him several times with Mrs. Beck^ 
soliciting charity for the Virginia City poor, and he never 
sent us away empty-handed, not only giving us all the way 
from $io to $25 every time we called, but he sent two and 
three cords of wood to some lone woman at different times. 
He, like one or two others I have mentioned, ought to be 
held very dear in the hearts of the poor of Virginia Citv. 
He did more than any man in Virginia City to keep the 
place up. The mines were nearly all kept open and very 
lively while he had the control. He spent large sums of 
money where he made it. He was once acknowledged to 
be the money king of Nevada. I believe he used large 
sums of his money in trying to save the California Bank, 
which he did. But for him the bank would have been 
closed to-day, for he is, perhaps, as rich now as some who 
make a bigger spread by going to the old countr}-. He is 
a very quiet man, and one well liked by all. 

This is the opinion I have formed of him from personal 
experience and from responsible citizens. 

The most of the wood burned in Virginia City and sur 
rounding towns is floated down the Carson River from the 
mountains around Carson City. From Carson City it 
is shipped aboard of the cars and brought to Virginia 
City. 

There are many little villages along the railroad from 
Virginia City to Reno embowered by shade trees, and sur- 
rounded by beautiful gardens. 

Empire City is one of the oldest of the teeming towns 
on the Carson River. 

Having now finished the description of all the towns 
around Virginia City, I will wind up this chapter with 
some of my private affairs. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 203 

In the fall of '75 I was confined to my bed lor six weeks, 
nothing- ailing me except being worn out with hard work. 
I had not only my work to do, but a great deal of private 
business on my hands, which weighed heavily on m}' health. 
It was after I had got the sad news of my sister's death, 
and could not go home to see her. I do not think I knew 
what I was doing half of the time. 

I will give you one or two instances of my absent-mind- 
edness. One day I wished for several things from down 
town, and started out to get them. Among the rest was a 
bedstead which I intended to call and order sent home on 
my way back. Well, when I was ready to go home, instead 
of going in the store and ordering it, I went up to the door, 
selected one that suited me from the number of bedsteads 
that stood outside, and, would you believe it, I picked up 
the foot-piece and started off up the sidewalk on C Street 
with it in my arms — it being all I could do to carry it — and 
never noticed my mistake until I happened to meet a friend 
who thought I had gone crazy. He asked me where I was 
moving to. Well, I W' ould not let him know I was not con- 
scious of what I was doing, so I said : I guess I will lose 
this bet, for I cannot carry it any further, and turned back. 
I carried the bedstead to the door. There the merchant 
stood looking after me, and laughing, for he knew it was a 
lit of absent-mindedness. 

I simply told him, when I reached the door, that I guessed 
he would have to send it up, for it was too heavy to carry. 

" I thought you would tire out," said he, " before you got 
far." 

Well, I paid for it, and it reached home before I did. 

Another day I went into a store, bought some goods, 
took out my purse, emptied the money out, put the money 
in my pocket, and handed the empty purse to the merchant, 
took my parcel, and started off. As I reached the door the 
man said : " Did 3'ou intend me to keep this ? " 



204 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I looked back and saw the purse. I put my hand in my 
pocket, and there felt the money. 

This was the way [ went around the house working, 
scarcely conscious of what I did, and eating nothing, until 
my strength was all gone. 

Many a day one of my lodgers, a fine little lady, hai 
made a bowl of oat-meal gruel, and brought it to me and 
made me drink it, for she knew I did not eat anything half 
of the time. I had no appetite, 

I would drink the gruel to please her. I worked in this 
way until one morning I got up to dress myself and fainted, 
and laid on the floor until this lady came down to get some 
water, and found me lying there. It was the first warning 
to me of a six weeks' fit of sickness. 

I had a disease called the " shingles." It was brought on 
by overwork. 

It resembles fever in symptoms, but is very readily 
known by a dark purple belt passing around the bc;dy 
about the bottom of the waist. It is said if the bel- 
meets, that a person never lives. I do not know how 
true this is ; but the belt had nearly closed before I dis- 
covered it. 

The lady who found me on the floor was a Catholic. She 
discovered it first, and was so frightened, lest it would kill 
me, that she took off her gold ring, blessed it, and then 
crossed me all around the waist with it, and repeated 
prayers over me, thinking to cure me by faith. 

After she had done, I asked her to steep some hops, and 
sprinkle them with ground mustard and cayenne pepper. 
I told her the ring might be good, but the poultice would 
be better. She did as I requested, and the next day 
there was nothing left of the belt but a brown streak. But 
I did not leave the bed in four weeks, nor the house in six ; 
for after I got up I could only walk by taking hold of chairs 
and pushing them before me. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 205 

About this time Judge Bi-anson came and told me he 
wanted me to go to the court-house to acknowledge some 
papers. I was not able to go, and two of my friends sup- 
ported me between them, each taking an arm. When I 
reached his office, he assisted me to the court-house and 
back again to his office, where I rested for a short time, 
and then started for home alone, holding on to the guards 
of the show-windows on C Street until I reached my house. 
There I laid down to rest. 

It always seemed as if Charlie was taken sick as soon as 
anything ailed me. 

While I was sick at this time, he was engaged in a 
"benefit." One night, after a rehearsal, he went to see 
one of the young ladies home, but as he reached her door, 
he dropped down, so severe was he taken ; but he soon got 
up and started home, much against her wishes, as she 
wanted to give him something to relieve him. 

He went about forty rods by holding on to houses which 
he passed. He finally reached a saloon-door, and could 
only say "pepper," when he fell to the floor. 

He was picked up, his face bathed, and his hands and 
feet chafed to restore him to consciousness. Some kind of 
spirits with Jamaica-ginger were stirred up and poured 
down him. In a few moments he revived, and commenced 
vomiting. He soon grew better, but it was a long time 
before he was able to go home. It was two o'clock before 
he reached home. He came and put his arms around my 
neck, and said : " O, mamma, I thought I would never see 
you again ! O, how I prayed I might live to see you ! " 

His hands were icy cold. He then told me how he had 
been. It was a severe attack of bilious choiic, the first he 
had ever had. It was caused, I think, by jumping immedi- 
ately after eating his supper. He has since been subject 
to these spells. 

I had scarcely recovered from this spell of sickness when 



2o6 Ten Years in Nevada. 

the big fire came, and everybody being thrown out ol 
boarding-places, all that had houses left had to take as 
many to room and board as they could accommodate, and 
then many had to sleep out of doors. I took about forty 
roomers, but could only take eight men day-boarders. 

One night, after we had finished our suppers, Charlie 
started for the telegraph office, but meeting some of his 
school-mates, who were coasting on Silver Street, north of 
our house, they asked him to have a ride. 

He said : " No; I am in a hurry ; " but being persuaded, 
he took one ride over a dump of snow which they had 
piled up for fun. He went to the top of the hill, which is 
very steep ; but when he reached the dump he was going 
at such a fearful rate of speed that the sled struck it, and 
he was thrown four or five feet into the air. He threw out 
both hands to save himself, and as he came down he struck 
the ground with such force that he broke his right arm at 
the wrist. He got up, and came into the house holding 
his hand. 

The boarders were still sitting at the table. He came up 
to the table, still holding his hand. 

"Catch hold of this, boys," said he, "and pull it in 
place." 

He thought it was unjointed. They did get hold of it, 
and pulled it in place. They held it there until the doctor 
came, who said it was both broken and unjointed. The 
boys finally pulled it in place. The doctor said if they had 
not done so, it would have been hard to set it, for it was a 
bad break. 

Charlie had just been promoted to the position of re- 
ceiver, and being anxious to keep his place, he went to work 
with his left hand and got the books in shape for another 
boy to work with. 

In three days he was off to the office again with his arm 
in a si in Of. 




'-'^^•v 





7 





7 



Life en the Pacific Coast. 207 

On the day of the fire he helped save some trunks, con- 
taining stock, jewelry, and other valuables, which were in 
the California Bank at the time, and which were burning. 
They belonged to a gentleman who was lame. He and his 
friend, Gus Nye, entered the burning building through the 
window. As they took the last trunk out, the building 
fell in. 

The boys got pretty well heated up. And all the rest of 
the day he was riding through fire, under the burning 
buildings, on horseback, carrying dispatches, 'and helping 
to put up wires, as the old ones were all burned down. He 
inhaled so much hot air and smoke that his lungs were 
severely injured. He has never had strong lungs since, nor 
has he seemed to enjoy good health. I am very much 
afraid he never will. He was very unfortunate as regards 
his own health. 

While there the work which he did was always of the 
kind that exposed him to all kinds of weather and danger. 

When he had his paper route, he was constantly in 
danger of walking into old shafts, for a sudden storm 
would rise up, and increase so rapidly that the snow 
would nearly blind him. Although he wore a cap which 
covered his entire face and neck, excepting places to see 
through, he was still unable to protect himself. 

One night he was walking along B Street, with his arms 
full of papers, when he noticed a large black spot in front 
of him. He stopped suddenly, and looking down, found 
himself on the brink of a cave which had fallen in since he 
had passed over it not an hour before. One more step 
would have been fatal to him, for it was a fearful big cave. 
Had he fallen in, he probably would never have lived to 
come out or even reach bottom. 

Speaking of falling into pits and caves reminds me of a 
circumstance which took place about seven years ago. I 
started to go to the lodge one night. It being quite earlv, 



2o8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

1 found none of the " Champions " there. 1 just stepped 
around the corner to A Street to call on a friend. 

When I came out of the house it was quite dark. (I can- 
not see good after dark, having- once been blind, although 
my sight seems good b}' daylight.) Some of the neighbors 
had been digging a water ditch, and had neglected to hang 
out a light. The ditch was about three feet wide and four 
feet deep. However, I walked straight into it. 

As I felt myself going down, I threw out my arms to 
grasp something, for I thought I was sinking in a cistern. 
The streets are filled with these cisterns for the use of the 
fire department, and they are sometimes left open by mis- 
chievous boys or by accident. As 1 threw up my arms, I 
struck the opposite side of the ditch, and clung to the 
ground for dear life. I felt with my feet to see if J could 
touch water. They came in contact with the pipe in the 
ditch. 

I knew, then, it was a water ditch instead of a cistern. 
I now began to wonder how I should get out. While the 
fright lasted I did not discover I was hurt. But now, as I 
began to move and try to climb out, I found I had hurt 
myself severely about the neck, shoulders, and lungs. 1 
managed to crawl out and get to the corner of Piper's 
building, on Union Street, where 1 rested a few moments, 
and then helped myself by the building until I reached the 
hall. One of the " Champions " assisted me home. 

The next day I suffered very much with my neck. I 
could not turn my head. 

Mr. Parsons, an old friend, and reporter for the Evening 
Chronicle, happened to call. He asked me what ailed my 
neck. I told him I had broken it by falling into a water 
ditch. 

And what did he do but walk down to the Chronicle office 
and tell them I had broken my neck. That same evening 
it appeared in the paper. He thought it would be a good 



Life OH the Pacific Coast. 209 

joke on me. (It was just like one of his old bachelor's 
tricks.) 

Our minister saw it, and hastened up to see me, as many 
others of my friends did. As he entered the house he found 
me washing- dishes, and putting away my supper-table. He 
looked surprised. Said he : "I have come up expecting 
to officiate at your funeral, and here you are at work as 
usual ! I see how it is ; you cannot find time to die any 
more than you cannot find time to marry." 

I told brother McGrath I thought very likely he would 
get cheated out of both jobs. 

He said : " I presume so ; it is just my luck." 

He was a very fine man, but his bump of mirthfulness 
sometimes got the start of his reverential faculties. He 
could no more resist laughing at a good joke than a drink- 
ing man could help stopping and looking into a saloon-door 
as he passed. 

While I kept lodgers I had some singular people to deal 
with. If my roomers were sick, I took as good care of 
them as though they were of my own family. 

One night a man came and engaged a room. When I 
went up stairs in the morning to do up my work, I found 
his door open. Thinking he had gone out, I went in and 
commenced making up one of the beds; but as I turned to 
put the clothes on his bed, there he lay. 1 turned to go 
out, but he called to me, sa^^ing : "I am very sick." 

I turned back and asked him what ailed him. 

He said : " Pneumonia," 

I asked him if he wished for any particular doctor. 

" I don't want any of the d — d tribe around me. Three 
of them got at a friend of mine on the Divide last week, 
and killed him in just three days, and they shan't kill me; 
it I must die, I will die a naUiral death." 

I asked him if he would take something that I would 
eive him. 



14 



2IO Ten Years in Nevada. 

He said : " Yes, anything, for they tell me you are bet- 
ter than half the doctors in town." 

I gave him some hot composition, put a hot stone to his 
feet, and sent a man up to bathe his lungs in camphorated 
liniment. 

In a short time he was sweating. This broke his fever, 
but the horrid cough hung on for over two weeks before I 
mastered it. One day I went to carry him his dinner, when 
I found him sitting up, all dressed, in his cold room, and it 
was midwinter. I asked him what he got up tor. 

He said : " I feel pretty well, and am going out." 

I told him to go back to bed for at least three days, for 
he was not out of danger. 

This frightened him, and when I went up for the dishes 
he was in bed. He now grew better very fast, aad soon 
was able to go out to his meals. 

He had been sick a little over three weeks when, one 
morning, I went up to his room and found him gone, 
bag and baggage. A note lay on the stand directed to 
me. 

I opened it, and read as follows : " Dear madam, I am 
much obliged to you for your kindness to me during my 
sickness. I am sorry, but I am going to leave for Gold 
Hill, to be nearer my work. 1 hope I may be able some 
day to do you the same favor. When I get some money I 
will pay you." 

The money never came. 

A book agent roomed at my house. He froze his face, 
and erysipelas set in. He was a fearful sight. He would 
have no doctor, but was willing to take anything I would 
give him. 

I carried his meals to him three times a day, and dressed 
his face. When he was better, he exposed himself and had 
a relapse, and I had to go over the same trouble as before. 
When he got up the second time, he started for San Fran- 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 21 1 

Cisco. Before he left he paid his rent, and then asked me 
what my bill was for nursing him. 

I told him I never made any charges for doctoring my 
roomers, but if they were able and willing to give me any. 
thing, I always took it. 

" Well, you have had so much trouble with me, I feel as 
though I ought to give you something. Here is 50 cents'' 

I told him I would not take anything. 

" Oh, yes ; take it for the medicine," said he. " You used 
two boxes of salve, didn't you ? " 

Yes ; but no matter. 

" Well, I will buy another box of you to take with me, 
since you won't take the 50 cents." 

I rolled up one and gave it to him. 

" How much is it?" 

Two dollars, said I. 

" Oh ! that's too much." 

Well, .then, do not take it ; that is the regular price, and 
I cannot sell it for less. 

"Won't $1.50 do?" 

No, sir, said I ; and put the box back on the table. 

He stood a moment, as if considering, then went up to 
the table, laid down the $2, took up the box, and went off 
without so much as saying " Thank you ! " 

There were several large boxes in the yard in which he 
had received his books. 

After a little time he came in, and said : " There's half a 
dozen boxes in the yard I will sell you cheap. They are 
worth 50 cents apiece ; but I will sell you the whole lot for 
$2, if you want them. If not, I will sell them to Mr. 
Ryan." 

I told him I did not care for them. 

He was gone about half the forenoon, when he came back 
and said he had disposed of four, and he guessed he would 
have to leave the other two. 



212 Ten Years in Neva el a. 

I think a lodging-house the best calculated to annoy and 
fret a person than any business one can engage in, for you 
are nothing but a watchman, night and day. 

The fires, lights, and doors all have to be looked after, as 
men are coming home at all times of the night, and some of 
them intoxicated ; for men who are habitual drunkards will 
often take a glass too much. 

A stranger, whom I took in during the night of the fire, 
came home a few weeks after quite intoxicated, and shut 
his wash-woman in his room. She commenced screaming. 
1 heard the luss, and ran up stairs and ordered him to open 
the door. He refused, and I called assistance. 

He then opened the door, and came out with a woman's 
muff in his hand, and a revolver just peeping from the end, 
pointing towards me. 

One of my boarders came to my assistance, and drew his 
own revolver, and ordered him to leave the house. He 
was sober enough to know that if he fired he would be 
shot, too. 

He went away using some very abusive language, but I 
told him never to come back again. 

In a few days he sent for his things. He owed me $20, 
which, of course, I lost. 

When I lived on A Street I rented a suite of rooms to a 
couple of ladies, as I supposed, but I soon found they were 
actresses in a melodeon theater. I told them I could not 
keep them any longer. Their month was only half up, and 
I refunded them the balance ot their money. They asked 
permission to leave their trunks until the next day. 

The next morning I went over to Mrs. Beck's house, as I 
had charge of it while she went East. I had not been there 
long before a friend called, and said : " Do you know your 
parlor window is down, and it looks like a storm ? " 

It was not down when I left. I will go and see what is 
the matter, said I. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 213 

When I reached home, I found the window down, and 
marks of feet upon it. I unlocked the door, and went into 
the part I occupied. I passed through the parlor to the 
bed-room. The door stood open, and there lay a man in 
bed, snoring loud enough to shake the roof. 

I stepped to the door to see if I could see anyone to call 
to my assistance. Mrs. Smith, a lady who liyed across the 
street, was the only person in sight. I beckoned to her, and 
she came oyer. 

I told her some one had entered the house through the 
window. She said she saw him, but thought it was some 
roomer who had lost his key. I told her to wait a moment. 
I took my pistol from under my pillow, went to the door 
and called to him, I called several times before I succeeded 
in arousing him. 

I pointed the pistol at his head, and told him I would 
giye him five minutes to leave the house. He was terribly 
frightened, and begged me not to shoot. I had scarcely 
returned to my room before he was there, too. 

He offered me $30 for the room. 

' I told him I did not want his money, for I would not keep 
ii lodger who would crawl in people's houses in that man- 
ner. I asked him how he dared to crawl in my window. 

He said he was drunk, or he would not have done it. He 
said the ladies wei^e his friends. He was very sorry, and 
wished I would take the money, and call it square. 

I showed him the door, and never saw him after that. 

This was the second time I had drawn my pistol. I did 
mot intend to shoot, but only to frighten him. I could have 
had him arrested, but I did not care to go into a police 
court again. 

I merely mention these few cases to let the reader see 
some of the trials we who keep lodging-houses have to put 
up with. 

It is no small trial, I assure you, to be obliged to take all 



214 1^^^^ Years in Nevada. 

of jour goods out of your house into the street eight or ten 
times a year on account of fires. 

In a large lodging-house it is a great deal of work, even 
if your house is not burned, to put them back and arrange 
them as they were before — nailing down carpets, putting 
up stoves and beds, are no small chores. 

While I was on A Street there was a large fire which 
commenced in a planing-mill on D Street, near Taylor 
Street. The Methodists lost their brick church. Nearly 
all the buildings on Taylor Street, from D Street to A 
Street, were consumed. The fire then turned down A 
Street to within three doors of where I lived. 

I took up my carpets, packed up my clothes and bed- 
ding, and carried them to Mrs. Beck's yard, two blocks be- 
low me. Then Charlie and a friend carried out a neV sofa 
I had just bought a short time before, and left it on a cross 
street. 

As soon as the fire was out sufificiently so that I knew it 
would not reach me, I put down my carpets again, and put 
everything in order. 

I now went to look for my sofa. It was gone. I looked 
about three hours, when I discovered it in the back yard 
of a Jew, who lived on A Street between Taylor and Union 
Streets. 

I asked him how it came there. 

" I put it there for safe-keeping ; I thought some one 
might steal it," said he. 

I thought this looked very much like theft, as he was a 
stranger to me. 

After all was settled and I had retired for the night, I 
heard two of my roomers going in and out constantly all 
night, and wondered what they were about. 

When I came to do up the work in the morning, the floor 
was covered with old letters, as though they had emptied 
their trunks. I took hold of the handle of one, and found 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 215, 

I could not raise it. I had moved them several times be- 
fore, and there never seemed to be anything- in them. 

I now judged they had been stealing at the hre. I think 
I was right. That night one of them left, owing me S8. 
When I discovered this, I watched the other one, thinking 
perhaps he might give me the slip, too. And sure enough, 
about ten o'clock, he came with an express wagon to take 
away his trunk. But I would not let him have it until he 
paid me. 

He gave me a ten-dollar gold piece. I had to go across 
the street to get it changed. When I came back, I noticed 
he had dropped the curtain. After he had gone, I went to 
roll it up, and found he had torn it from top to bottom, 
merely out of spite, I suppose, because he did not get off 
as cheap as his partner had. 

Letters that I found on the floor of his room proved him 
to be a thief. It seemed he had stolen his father-in-law's 
gold watch and chain, and his wife wrote him, begging 
him to return it. She said she would rather go without 
the money he had promised her. 

While on A Street I took another roomer. When he was 
brought to me, he had to be carried into the house from the 
sleigh. He had a broken jaw. His friend said he had been 
stopping at a boarding-house, but the lad)^ who kept it did 
not have time to give him any care. He could not eat 
solid food, but onl}'' such as was in a liquid form, and had 
been nearly starved to death for want of such food. 

" I would like to have you try and see if you cannot re- 
cruit him," said his friend, "as I have heard you were an 
excellent nurse. As he can take but a small quantity of food 
at a time, it will be necessary to have it prepared the oftener." 

I told him all should be done for his friend that could be 
done. 

He said : " It will be necessary for him to have an easy 
chair to rest his head against," 



2i6 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I told him I had no means of getting one. 

" Oh, well, I will pay for it," said he, giving me $6, the 
price of the chair. 

His friend took me aside, and said : " Spare no pains with 
him. He is a rich man, able and willing to pay for any 
trouble. You will lose nothing. He may make you a pres- 
ent of a couple of hundred dollars." 

He was at my house a month, and received every possible 
care, having food prepared four or five times a day. At 
the end of two weeks he had recovered strength sufficiently 
to walk down town. When he left he paid the rent, de- 
ducting the price of the chair. He then asked me what I 
charged him for cooking. 

I told him " Nothing." 

He said : " You are very kind, I am sure. How much 
did the milk come to that you bought for me ? " 

I told him he had had two quarts a day. 

The milk came to $6.50. He gave me $7 in silver, and, 
as 1 could not make the change, he said : " Keep the 
change ; I have been a great deal of trouble to you." 

Now, as I had expected a present of $:!oo, and it had 
dwindled down to 50 cents, my feelings naturally rebelled. 
I was about to ask him to wait until 1 went out and got the 
change, when, on second thought, I was convinced that 
such an act would have no more effect on a man of such a 
penurious disposition than pouring water on a goose. I 
pocketed what little there was, and let him go. 

Another fire occurred near me on C Street during the 
last summer I lived in Virginia City. 1 was attending a 
funeral on B Street, directly back of my house, when I 
heard the Norcross whistle, and knew there was a fire near 
us, I stepped to the door, and saw a building in flames in 
the same block, and only four doors from my house. 

I ran home, and went to packing up my goods. I had 
packed but two or three bundles, when the whole house 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 217 

seemed tilled with people. Mr, IMcCutcheon seemed to be 
leading them on. He and Mr. McGrath advised me not to 
take down my furniture, but only tie up the bedding, " for," 
said they, " you have friends enough here to take out every 
article after the fire reaches the house." 

The bedding, however, was packed in sheets — some ten 
or fifteen bundles — and Mr. McCutcheon standing by mark- 
ing my name on each bundle. 

I had also locked mj^ trunk, and set it out on the porch. 
Some friend, who thought the house could not be saved, 
carried my trunk away some distance, and left it on the 
street in charge of some boys. 

As soon as Mr. McCutcheon discovered it was gone, he 
went and brought it back, and placed a guard over it, that 
it might not be carried away again without his orders. 

Mr. Beck was also there with his whole force and an ex- 
press team, and carried away several bundles to his store, 
which were returned to me after the fire. 

The rest of the things I did not move, as word was sent 
me that there was no danger, as the fire was under control. 
My friends now set to work and helped me put the house 
in order. 

I now had time to look around upon the crowd, and 
found every face there was that of a friend. 

Now many more who had just returned from out of 
town, or had been engaged fighting the fire, as many of the 
citizens w^ere, came pouring in to congratulate me on my 
narrow escape. The house was thronged until nine 
o'clock. 

It was at this time that I learned how many true and 
valuable friends both Charlie and myself had in Virginia 
City. There were not less than fifty people there helping 
me during the fire. A dozen or more of them were boys — 
Charlie's mates — who worked like little heroes. 

When left alone that evening, I could not help shedding 



2i8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

tears of gratitude over the discovery of so many warm- 
hearted friends. 

And if perchance some of them who assisted me happen 
to read this book, they will know that the services rendered 
that day will ever be gratefully remembered by me, though 
in a distant land. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Incidents of My Life Continued. 

#NE of the most annoying cases I ever had was that of 
,^^^ a woman who came to me one night and said she was 
starving. After she had eaten what I gave her, I asked her 
why she did not go home. Have you had any trouble with 
your husband ? I asked. 

" Have you not heard that he has applied for a divorce ? " 
she asked, in return. 

I'told her I had not. 

She now told me all of her grievances. I had once lived 
across the street from her beautiful home, and thought her 
a very nice woman, although report said she drank. I 
never saw her drink a drop. 

She told me he had turned her out of doors with but $io 
and her bed. She had sold the bed to pay room rent, and 
her $10 being used up, she had not tasted food for three 
days. 

I gave her a room, and the next day called on her hus- 
band. He said Avhat he had done was to frighten her from 
drink. He said if she would stay six weeks at my house 
without drinking, he would pay me, and take her back. 

He wanted me to call in occasionally and let him know 
how she got along. 

In the course of six weeks I called twice. I told him she 
was doing well, and had not tasted a drop. At the end of 
the time I called again. He then said he had made up his 



220 Ten Years in Ncz'cida. 

mind to quit her, and would not give a cent to save her 
life. 

" Turn her out on the street if she won't pay you," 
said he. 

1 told him she had nothing to pay with. 

" Yes, she has plenty of jewelry — two diamond rings, a 
gold watch, two or three chains, and diamond ear-rings, 
and either one of the latter is worth more than enough to 
pay you." 

I went back and reported to her what he said. She 
seemed to feel perfectly broken-hearted, and cried most of 
the time, day and night. 

" Never mind," said she ; " let me stay with you till after 
the suit, and I will pay you some way." 

I told her she might. But from that da}" she 'never 
seemed to be the same person. I think her troubles 
turned her brain. I never had a good night's rest after 
this. She wanted a light burning, and would not let me 
sleep. She would sit and talk about her husband the entire 
night. 

The case was postponed from time to time, and was in 
the courts nearly a whole year. She did not drink a drop, 
while in my house, that I know of; but I found some mor- 
phine powders once or twice in her bed. 

The case was finally decided against the poor woman, 
and she was left destitute. I could not turn her out until 
she saw some way of supporting herself. 

One day two ladies, who had been keeping a private 
laundry, called, and said they would like to find some one 
who would buy them out. They would sell their whole 
outfit for $15. 

I thought this a good chance for my roomer, and advised 
her to take the business. She disposed of some of her 
jewelry, bought them out, and went to work. 

Before she left I said to her: How is it that you, as well 



Life en the Pacific Coast, 221 

as others, admitted that you drank, when I lived near ytni 
a whole year and never saw you drink? 

She said : " I knew you were a strong temperance 
woman. 1 liked you, and did not want you down on me 
for drinking, so whenever I saw you coming, I dropped the 
curtain, and kept out of sight, if I had been drinking." 

Well, said I, if I had known that, I would never have 
dared to go into court as a witness for you, for fear people 
Avould think I was not telling the truth. I was quite annoyed. 

•' No," said she, " no one would ever think that of you. 
Your principles are too well known for anyone to think you 
would screen a person you really thought drank spirits." 

Well, now, you have staid sober a whole year; and if 
you will go to work and support yourself, and not drink 
any more, I will always stand by 3'ou and be your friend. 
She promised to do so. 

Before she went away she said : " I want to pay you for 
all of your kindness to me ; but only for you, I do not know 
where I should be to-day." 

1 had given her a receipt in full after the court had de- 
cided she should have no alimony. I therefore told her the 
bill was settled. 

"No," said she; "something tells me I shall never have 
another opportunity of pa3-ing you." 

She went to her trunk, took out her case of jewelry, and 
presented me with her diamond ear-rings. 

" Take these," said she ; " they will just about pay you 
for my board and lodging and the $25 you loaned me to 
carry on my suit." 

I told her she might need them herself. 

She said : " I might as well pay an honest debt rather 
than fool them away, as perhaps I shall ; but they will 
never half repay you for all your kindness to me." 

She showed a more honest heart than the man who had 
turned her into the street to starve. 



/ 



222 



Ten Years in Nevada. 



She went away, and commenced her work. She stuck 
to it a month, remaining perfectly straight. I called on her 
several times, and always found her at work. Some time 
during the second month she yielded to the temptation of 
drink. It soon became a common report that she had given 
herself entirely up to its influence. 

I learned this from a reliable source, and discontinued 
my calls to her house. 

If I took the rings as pay for board, lodging, and the 
$25 I loaned her, they would cost me just $534. 

The reader can reckon for himself — a room for $15, which 
was very cheap after the fire, and $1 a day for board, and $25 
in money. Then there was the annoyance of being kept awake. 
I would not be hired to do it again for twice that sum. 

The first time I visited San Francisco I took thetti to a 
first-class jeweler. He said : " They are second-hand ; you 
cannot get as much for them as though they were new. 
They are worth $500. They probably cost much more." 

I do not think she knew their real value, as they were a 
wedding present from a friend. 

When men give wedding presents in California and Ne- 
vada, they are princely gifts. 

There does not seem to be any misers there. They think 
nothing of giving Christmas and New Year's presents 
worth from $100 to $200, a nice diamond ring, pin, or a 
Sfold watch and chain. The Christmas-trees are loaded 
with costly gifts. 

I think the people there do all they can to make the holi- 
days as pleasant for the children as well as the older people. 
The people there seem to think more ot their children than 
you do in the East. You hardly find a parent but is kind to 
his little ones. I think it is owing to the lovely climate. 

They have mild, pleasant, summer weather a good por- 
tion of the winter. I think I have stated that we have no 
thunder or lightning there, but I believe it rains sometimes 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 223 

in Carson City and Reno, near the rivers. . I have seen it 
sprinkle once or twice in Carson City. The evenings are 
very pleasant, hardly ever being very dark, for the sky 
seems one sheet of bright stars; so when there is no moon, 
it is still quite light. One can always enjoy these bright 
nights without fear of damp feet, for we never have any 
dew there. 

But with all this lovely weather the mountain-tops are 
covered with snow the year round. 

This is why our summers are visited with terrific winds 
in Nevada, especially in Storey County. They come sweep- 
ing over Mt. Davidson, dealing destruction to everything 
in their path. It is quite common for houses to be blown 
down or unroofed in one of these storms. Tin roofs will 
lie rolled up on every street-corner. 

The first winter after I went there they had a fearful 
storm. It took a lady from the sidewalk, carried her about 
three rods, and dashed her against an engine. 

I was relating this circumstance to a lady, who said: 
" That is nothing. I saw a man sawing wood on a piece of 
sidewalk that was fastened together perfectly solid The 
sidewalk was taken up and carried two or three hundred 
feet through the air — the man sawing wood all the time, 
and never let up." 

I could hardly give this credit. But I have since heard 
the same story from several persons. 

The Virginia City people never allow any person to get 
the start of them on a good story. The one who tells the 
last has the advantage of the rest. 

This reminds me of a good one told by Mrs. Beck about 
her father-in-law. She said he wished for a barrel of sugar 
very much, as he was entirely out, and, keeping store, he 
dispatched to the firm with whom he was dealing at the 
time. His dispatch read thus: " I want a barrel of sugar 
the worst kind." 



224 ^'<^^^ Years in Nevada. 

She says his order was filled to a letter, for when the 
sugar came it proved to be the worst kind, black and dirty, 
not fit for sale. He wrote to them immediately to know 
why they sent him such sugar, as he could not sell it. 

They wrote back telling him he had sent for the worst 
kind of sugar, and they had filled the order, and did not see 
why he should grumble. 

He was obliged to keep the sugar, and take the joke : 
but when he sent again, he was careful to say, "send imme- 
diately." 

Nothing will grow in Virginia City except it is irrigated. 
Nearly every house has a hose to water its yard. You 
Eastern people, with your splendid yards and flower-gar- 
dens kept free from weeds, would laugh to see the Nevad- 
ans nursing pig-weeds and every blade of grass that ghance 
produces in their yards. It is true, I have seen many nurs- 
ing common weeds. They will sow wheat or anything 
that will cover the dust, and water it with as much care as 
3^ou would a bed of geraniums, or any other choice plant. 

There are no trees on any of the surrounding mountains, 
all having been cut off in early days for wood and timber 
for the mines. A very few scrub cedars and pines remain. 
The mountains are covered with sage-brush as well as the 
plains. There are no wild flowers, save a few wild daises 
and thistles. The thistles are a bright red, and their blos- 
soms resemble the Scotch thistle. 

There are several gardens around Virginia City and 
American Flat, but they are all cultivated by irrigation — 
that is, by digging large ditches around and through the 
gardens. They are all owned by Spanish, French, and 
Chinamen. 

The sage-brush grows from one to three feet high. In- 
dians and Chinamen cut it for fire-wood. They also use the 
stumps of cedars that have been cut down. The mount- 
ains near Carson Citv and Washoe are covered with them. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 225 

They will, take eight or ten jacks and a sack of rice, go 
into the mountains and stay for days at a time gathering 
stumps. These they will continue to pile upon the backs 
of their jacks by means of a small wooden rack, made in 
the form of a saw-horse. These are held in place on the 
jacks' backs by means of straps or girths, which are fast- 
ened so tight as to cause the poor animals pain. Some of 
them always show the mark when turned out. They then 
load them, putting as much on those little jacks — not larger 
than a yearling — as you will draw at a decent load on a 
one-horse democrat. You would scarcely believe what I 
tell vou without seeing it. The Chinaman takes his poorest 
jack and starts ahead, clubbing him all the way to make 
him keep up, the others following him, in Indian file, at a 
snail's pace. They take these stumps to Chinatown and 
cdt them into very fine stove-wood. They then fill their 
racks with stove-wood, putting on from twenty to thirty 
sticks. They then lead the jacks around from door to door, 
and sell the load for $1. Sometimes, if it is a small load, 
they will take " six bits." 

You will see these wood-merchants scattered all through 
the city every day in the week. 

They also carry their vegetables in the same manner. 
There is one thing that the Chinamen do which is a help 
to the city. They keep the rags, bottles, and old cans pretty 
well picked up. 

The bottles they use, and the cans they melt in order to 
get the solder. There are wagon loads of old tins in their 
neighborhood that they have melted. I do not know what 
they do with the rags, unless they sleep on them, as there 
are no paper mills in Nevada. There is one, I believe, in 
San Francisco. I have been told so, but I did not see it. 

The people of Virginia City are very hard on their 
horses — that is, in the way they drive them. They are 
always on the run or trot, up hill or down, it matters not 

15 



226 Ten Years in Neiada. 

which. You never see a horse driven slowly. You can 
sometimes hear the poor animals breathe three and four 
rods away. They nearly all breathe as if they had the 
heaves. 

They wear them out very fast ; but I think, as a general 
thing, they feed them well, as they all look fat. You hardly 
ever see one horse driven ; there are always two and lour 
to the livery rigs. There are a few express wagons with 
one horse, but mostly two. The 'busses are driven with 
three to four spans. The quartz wagons have from eight 
to sixteen spans of horses, but they have two and three 
large wagons attached together loaded with quartz or wood, 
and all managed by one man. They have one span in front, 
which they call leaders, and which seem to know just where 
to go. These wagons are very strong. It would 'take a 
whole set of democrat wheels to make one wheel of a quartz 
wagon. These wagons all have brakes with a long iron rod 
attached. This is fastened to the wagon near the right- 
hand of the driver, so that he can reach it in a moment. 

There are some of the finest livery rigs I ever saw. It 
is impossible to tell who keeps the best ; but I think Gear- 
hart goes ahead. He is a very liberal man, and always 
buys tickets for charitable purposes. 

The winters are generally very short, but while the sleigh- 
ing lasts, the}^ improve the time, and just coin money by 
letting teams at $io and $15 an hour. This is rather ex- 
pensive sleigh-riding, but it does not seem to make any dif- 
ference. You will see them flying in every direction. 

I asked a man in the East how he would like to pay such 
a price to take his girl sleigh-riding. 

He said : " She would stop at home a long time before I 
would pay such a price." 

He asked how they ever laid up anything. I told him 
they never laid up anything ; they spent all as they went 
iilong. And so they do. If a man lays up anything there, 



J 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 227 

it is because his income is more than he can sj^end, or he 
makes a sudden turn in stocks. It is not often laid up in 
any other way. 

1 think teaming is the hardest work done, next to mining, 
in Virginia City. When a man gets to his stopping place 
for the night, he has all his teams to care for. By the time 
one man has taken care of fifteen or twenty horses, it is be- 
tween ten and twelve o'clock, and he is completely tired 
out. (You who have but one and two horses to care for 
know how it is yourself.) 

I will now return again to stock-brokerage. 

In the year of '"j^) I took $300 and went to a broker and 
told him to buy me " Best & Belcher " at %i. He said: 
■" It is not a good buy." 

What is ? I asked. 

" ' Franklin' is a buy. It is $2 now. It will be $5 in a 
week," said he. 

But a friend tells me " Best & Belcher " is going to $25 
before long. 

" I guess you will have to wait some time. She is only 
in a pool," he replied. 

I took Mr. Hegan's advice, and bought one hundred 
shares of "Franklin." 1 put it in without limit, and when 
I called for my stock, he said that I had to pay $3 for it, as 
it had gone up $1. I kept this stock six months waiting 
for it to go up. But instead of going up, it dropped to $2, 
and remained so two months, when it went up again to $3. 
I now rushed down and sold it, after doing without the 
use of my money eight months, and losing my percentage 
of buying and selling. 

At the time I bought this the " Best & Belcher," which I 
wanted but did not buy, went up from $1 to $25 in one week. 

Had I bought the three hundred shares which I first 
ordered, I would ha^e had $7,500, making a net profit of 
$7,200. 



228 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Several times I have been advised in the same manner^ 
and allowed fortunes to slip through my hands. After 
I became more way-wise in the tricks of stock-brokers, I 
declined taking their advice, and have since had better suc- 
cess in dealing in stocks. But all brokers are not dishonest. 
There are some very fine men in Virginia City who are 
brokers. 

At another time I lost a fortune through a whim, as my 
friend, Mrs. Wallen said. I had $8i with which I intended 
to purchase a sewing-machine. Forty dollars of this sum I 
had borrowed of Mrs. Rawson, and was on my way home, 
when I met a friend, who advised me to buy "American 
Flat" stock, and said it was only "two bits" a share, and 
would go to $25 before a week. 

I told my friend 1 had $80, but a part of it I had just 
borrowed. If I used it for stock, Mrs. Rawson might think 
I had deceived her, and think I had borrov/ed the money 
to deal in stock instead of paying for a machine. So I did 
not buy it. It did go to $25 before the week was out, and 
thus I missed $8,100. 

I have been posted many a time when I could have made 
fortunes had I had money to invest at the time I received 
the information. 

Whenever I did not have money to invest, I advised my 
friends to, but some of them would never buy unless I 
told them where I received my information. But this I 
would never tell my best friend, because it would not only 
prevent my getting another post, but would injure the par- 
ties who informed me. 

One young man made $400 on my recommending him to 
buy certain stock. 

Another made about the same sum by buying "Chollar," 
but did not follow my advice clear through, for as soon as 
he sold, he invested his money again in " Wild Cat," and 
lost all his money but $30, and $7 of that sum he insisted 



Life on the Paeific Coast, 229 

upon my taking. He said he intended to have given me 
more if he had not lost it all. 

I got most of my posts on stock in the shape of presenti- 
ments. I visited the mines in my sleep. 1 passed through 
all of the lower levels, tapping their richest veins. 

I have visited the rich ore chambers of the "Ophir," 
^' California," and " Union." I have seen them where their 
walls were apparently sealed up, but they were transparent 
to me in my nocturnal vision. 

I have also seen rich bodies of ore in these mines, which 
have not yet been discovered by man, and, were I down in 
the mines, could point out their exact locations. 

My dreams have never failed me, not even since I re- 
turned East, for I was visited by one of these nocturnal 
visions just before the big rise of the " Sierra Nevada," in 
the summer of '78. 

At the time of my dream this stock was but $3 a share, 
Avith $1 assessment. So you see the stock was really worth 
but $2. 

My dream told me the stock would go very high, and 
gradually drop to a low figure. It would be highest in 
September and lowest in December. I was so impressed 
with the dream that I immediately wrote to my friend, 
Mrs. Beck, to buy " Nevada," or anything on the north end 
of the Comstock. 

She did not buy when I first wrote, but waited until 
^' Nevada " reached $100, and then she loaded up. 

" Nevada" continued to go higher till she reached $300, 
and instead of her selling at this figure, as I advised her to 
do, she took the advice of another, and held it for a still 
higher figure. 

Well, it was the same old story — the stock broke, and she 
was sold out on her " Nevada." 

This reminds me of what her little five-year-old girl once 
told me. 



230 Ten Years in Nevada. 

We were speaking of stock, when she came running up> 
to me, and said: " I will tell you how to deal in stocks," 

I took the child on my lap, and said : Now, Ida, tell me 
all about it. 

" Do just as my ma does ; buy when it is way up, and sell 
when it is way down." 

We all had a good laugh over Ida's advice ; and I do not 
think Mrs. Beck has heard the last of it to this day. 

Speaking of stock brokerage by dreams remind me of 
many happy evenings I have spent at Judge Noyes'. The}^ 
would sometimes have card parties. (They were quite fash- 
ionable in Virginia City). As my boy always accompanied 
me, I would never take part in the card-playing, not be- 
cause I thought there was any harm in playing for simple 
amusement, but I did not like to play before my child, as I 
did not think him old enough to distinguish the difference 
between gambling and playing for an evening's amuse- 
ment. So I chose to wait until he was old enough. I could 
never be induced to play with them, for I never believed in 
parents setting an example before their children which they 
did not wish them to follow. 

They would tell me if I did not play, I must tell their 
fortunes. About eleven or twelve o'clock we had our sup- 
per ; then my share in the evening's entertainment came in, 
lor I told their fortunes by the cup. I have told ten and 
fifteen in an evening. I generally rattled off whatever came 
into my mind first. But the strangest part of it was what- 
ever I told them always came to pass, and sometimes with- 
in twenty-four hours after I had told them. 

They would always acknowledge what I told them was 
true, if it were of the past. If it were of the future, they 
awaited the result of my prophecy. I have even told some 
of old mining claims they had recorded in early days, and 
which they had forgotten, and furthermore told them where 
they would find them recorded. 



Life on the Pacijic Coast. 231 

They have denied knowing anything about it. I told 
them to wait, and before twenty-four hours they would have 
an offer, through the mails, for their claim. 

I advised them not to sell, but take in a partner and work 
it themselves. Before the time expired they received the 
offer. They then thought it worth while to search the 
records, and there they found what I told them w'as true. 
They then followed the rest of my advice, and the " Lady 
Washington" was the result of one fortune. 

I have told certain lawyers that they would have an ap- 
plication to take the same case from the different parties 
concerned. I have told them which side to take, and they 
won their case. They would acknowledge they had already 
had the offers, and were undecided how to act. 

I used to predict serious accidents in the mines and on 
the streets. Sometimes 1 would tell them several would 
happen the same day or week. I did this to frighten them 
awav, as fortune-telling became quite a nuisance. But 
somehow everything would happen just as I predicted. 
No matter whether it was accident, tragedy, fire, runaway, 
smash-up, or town scandal, it was all the same, and they 
would immediately return for another fortune. 

I now thought to get rid of them by charging a high 
fee, and refused to tell for less than $5, and, to my surprise, 
they would lay the money down before me ; but I would 
never touch a cent of their money, for this would have 
been acknowledging myself a fortune-teller. 

When I saw money was no object, 1 told them then and 
there that I would never tell their fortunes again, and they 
knew when I said this, it was of no use to come again. 

I do not claim to be a fortune-teller ; but if I had set up 
the business, I would have made more money than I did at 
keeping lodgers, but T never believed in such humbuggery. 
What I did was pastime and amusement. 

I do believe that people are sometimes gifted with so 



232 Ten Years in Nevada. 

lively an imagination that they are capable of conjuring up 
almost any circumstance ; for I often saw the things passing 
in my mind that I saw in the cup, and have described some 
very singular as well as serious and comical things which 
have come to pass. 

While I am writing, a very singular scene presents itself 
before me. A man has a small, dark trunk in his possession. 
There are valuable things in it which do not belong to him. 
He often visits it — in the year 1882. That trunk is destined 
to be his death in some way, and his death will be recorded 
in one of the daily papers of Virginia City. 

This scene comes up so vividly before me that I cannot 
help recording it. 

I have said the big fire did me but little good, neither did 
it, for I lost on my eight boarders $417. One of my board- 
ers was taken sick, and when he could get no relief from 
doctors, he decided to go to the hospital. He owed me $75, 
and he did not wish to make the bill larger, with no pros- 
pects of paying. 

After he had been there two months the doctor said only 
a change of climate would help him. 

A lady-nurse, who was stopping at my house, called 
little x\.nnie (she was a small person, but had as big a heart 
as ever beat in human breast), got up a subscription list, 
and went around and raised money enough to send him to 
San Francisco. She had $15 left, which she gave him for 
medicines. 

I gave him a receipt in full for his bill, for I knew it wor- 
ried him. He was a very hard-working young man, and 1 
believe strictly honest. His partner owed me $98, but could 
get no work. I got him a job, at which he earned $20 to 
get him out of town to a place where he could get work. He 
promised to send me what he owed me as soon as he earned it 
But he never sent the money. Perhaps he never got work. 
He was a very agreeable young man, and I thought honest. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 233 

Two other men went away owing me three months' 
board besides their lodging. Another one I boarded about 
a year, and took it all in work. In fact, I did not have but 
one boarder whom it paid me to keep. We called him the 
^' flying Yankee." I never saw hinl walk unless in the 
house. Outside he always ran. He was a real, live Yan- 
kee, and was as full of fun as he w^as of business. 

He was an agent from the East, selling machinery to the 
mines, and at enormous figures, and used to come into the 
sitting-room evenings and tell us what big bargains he had 
made through the da3\ 

He said : " When 1 was East, I used to tell my mother 
and wife of my big trades, and now I shall have to tell you 
and Mrs. Wallen, or I shall die, for I must tell it to some, 
body." 

I never saw anyone who seemed to enjoy a good bargain 
better than he did. He used to say : " I am just coining 
money every day." 

He sent home large drafts of money four and five times 
a week. He was never contented when in the house unless 
doing something. He would peel potatoes or apples, and 
cut nearly all the wood burned while he was there, and 
many other little chores about the house. 

He paid $18 a month rent, and §1 a day for his board. 
All the roomers thought his company was worth his board. 
After he returned East he recommended a friend, Avho was 
coming to Virginia City, to stop at my house. { thought 
this ver}' kind in him. 

His friend came and staid with me as long as he stopped 
in town. He seemed a very nice man, but was not as 
pleasant as the " flying Yankee." 

We have some very bad men in Virginia City as w'ell as 
good ones. It is a very common thing to have a citizen 
stopped on the streets of a dark night and made to hold up 
his hands. 



234 ^'^''^ Years in Nevada. 

One man points a six-shooter at his head, while another 
one goes through his pockets. Respectable ladies have 
sometimes been knocked down and robbed. 

There was a young man there who had made fun of 
people holding up their hands, and declared no one wculd. 
make him do so. 

His sweetheart and her sister, and his own sister, who 
was fond of practical jokes, determined to try his courage. 

The first time he asked the young lady to go out for a 
drive, she had her choice of the roads, and chose the Ameri- 
can Flat road, which was quite lonely. Her brother and 
the other young ladies dressed in disguise and went out to 
meet them as soon as it was dark. 

As he was driving along he heard the word '' Halt ! " 
His horse was seized by the bit, the muzzle of a' pistol 
thrust in his face, and told to pile out. After he had left 
the carriage, he was told to throw up his hands. 

He did so. They went through his pockets, taking his 
watch and chain, and other valuables. 

They now turned to the carriage and told the young 
lady to hand over any jewelry she possessed. He begged, 
they would not frighten the young lady. They paid no 
attention to him, but took all that she had. 

They then said to him : " Pile in and git ! " 

He was quite willing, and did not wait for a second 
bidding. 

When he was gone they took a nearer road and reached 
home before he did. 

I was told he received all his things in a package, accom- 
panied by a note, warning him never again to say he would 
not throw up his hands. 

The joke was too good, for it soon leaked out. After this 
he was never heard to brag of his courage. 

I give you the story exactly as it was given to me. 

When I had lived about one year in my own house, I was 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 235 

troubled with my teeth, and had three of them extracted. 
At the time I had them drawn, they did not bleed much ; 
but some three days after, I lifted something- very heavy, 
which caused the blood to rush to my head. This caused 
the cavities in my gums to bleed very freely. It was some 
time before I could check it. 

When I retired for the night 1 told Charlie if he heard 
any noise in my room in the night, to come in. But he is 
a heavy sleeper, and did not wake during the night. About 
three o'clock I woke up strangling, and my mouth full of 
blood. The bed seemed wet and damp around me. I man- 
aged to strike a light which stood near my bed, when I 
discovered the pillows and sheets around me saturated with 
blood. I managed to take off the cases and roll the dry 
end of the top sheet around the pillows. I now reached to 
the table and got some towels and a table-cloth which laid 
there. The latter I used for a sheet, and the towels I spread 
over the pillows. While I had been doing this I was also 
holding alum and salt in my mouth (which I had placed 
near my bed before retiring). With this I succeeded in 
checking the blood, and laid back on my pillows. Feeling 
very taint, I rapped on the wall at the head of my bed for 
Charlie — his bed being on the other side — but failed to 
arouse him. 

I then became deathly sick; having swallowed so much 
blood while sleeping, I now commenced vomiting. This 
caused the blood to rush to m}- head again, and flow in a 
stream from my mouth. I now gave up all hope, as I was 
unable to leave my bed or call for assistance. It was now 
nearly five o'clock. 

But hope revived. At this moment the door opened, and 
Charlie came out of his room. A wash-bowl of blood stood 
by the bed-side, saturated towels and pillow-cases laid scat- 
tered over the floor, the bed was also one gore of blood, 
and the crimson tide was still flowing from my mouth. 



236 Ten Years in Nevada. 

As his eyes took in the scene, they dilated with liorror. 
He rushed to the bed, and seizing my hand, which was icy 
cold, exclaimed : " Oh, my God ! Ma, you are bleeding to 
death like the poor man did on C Street ! " 

He was speaking of a butcher who had burst a blood ves- 
sel by lifting a quarter of a beef, and who died on the side- 
walk before assistance could reach him. 

He took a towel, wet it in cold water, and laid it about 
my neck. He now ran to the door of my only roomer, and 
said: " Get up quick, my mother is dying ! Build a fire, 
put on the tea-kettle and the flat-irons ! Hurry, hurry I I 
am going for a doctor ! " 

Dr. Greene being the nearest, he went for him. The 
doctor said it was hemorrhage of the gums, and he would 
have to get a dentist. 

He then went after Dr. H , who said : " Tell your 

mother to come down here, and I will give her something ; 
I don't feel well, and can't go. I think 1 am going t^ have 
the fever." 

" But, doctor, my mother is dying ! I want you to come 
quick," said Charlie. 

" I can't," the doctor said. 

" Well, then, give me the medicine," said Charlie, " and I 
will give it to her." 

"No; it is poison, and you might give her too much," 
replied the doctor. 

Charlie began to mistrust that the doctor's head was a 
little muddled by hot toddy, although he claimed to be a 
Son of Temperance. 

Charlie, now thinking the doctors might all be too drunk 
or sleepy to be aroused, came running back home, not hav- 
ing been gone over twenty minutes. 

The cold water he had placed about my neck had the 
desired effect, for the blood had almost ceased to flow. 
I was very cold, and Charlie placed the flat-irons all 



A 



Life on tJic Pacific Coast. 237 

around me in bed. He then said : " I could not get a doc- 
tor to come," and turning to the roomer, said : " What shall 
we do ? " 

Before the roomer could speak, he added: "Oh ! I know 
what to do now." And suiting the action to the word, he 
came to the bed, tore open the quilt, took out some cotton, 
made three little wads, and saturated them with cinnamon 
oil. He then came and pressed them into the cavities of 
my gums. 

This was heating to the gums and caused them to swell 
and hold the cotton in place. He had often used this ior 
his teeth, and knew it benumbed the gums, and thought it 
would stop the bleeding. He is a good nurse, and quite a 
physician in the Thompsonian line. 

He saved my life by this little act ; for half an hour longer 
would have ended my days. I can call to mind many other 
instances where his care and thoughtfulness saved my life. 
I will here relate some little anecdotes concerning him. 
When Charlie was about twelve years of age, he, like the 
other little boys, had his sweetheart. One day he caught 
one, Monnehan, sending a note to his girl. He immediately 
challenged him to mortal combat, giving him the choice of 
weapons, and also the place of meeting. 

Monnehan replied on the opposite side of the note : " We 
will meet at the race-track with knives or pistols." 

This was sent in school hours. After school Charlie lost 
the challenge. 

A gentleman finding it, and thinking it a serious affair in- 
stead of a joke, as it was intended, took it to the Chronicle 
office and had it published. 

He said : " Such boys ought to be looked after before 
they kill each other." 

The boys thought it a capital joke on him. I have since 
heard them laugh several times over their sham duel. 
Charlie was quite full of fun when a small boy, but would 



238 Ten Years in Nevada. 

never do anything he thought there was harm in, for he 
had nothing wicked or willful in his nature. He was also 
very truthful. 

One day, at noon, he and several other boys about his 
own age put some pepper on the stove. When the teacher 
went to call the school, she could not enter the room. She 
threw open the door, and asked if some one would not go 
in and raise the windows. No one seemed willing to vent- 
ure. About this time Charlie came from his lunch, and 
seeing what they had done, he rushed in, holding his breath, 
and threw open all the windows. 

After the room was thoroughly ventilated, she called the 
school to order, and asked the scholars if anyone could tell 
who put the pepper on the stove. 

A girl spoke up and said she thought Charlie Mathews 
and the other boys (naming them) did it. 

The teacher asked her why she thought so. 

" Because I saw them all go into the school-house by 
themselves." 

The teacher now turned to the boys, and asked each one 
separately if he had put pepper on the stove. They all, 
expecting a sound whipping from both their teacher and 
parents, denied it. It so happened that every bo}', except- 
ing Charlie, was the son of a trustee. 

Charlie was the last one she put the question to. He elec- 
trified the whole school by acknowledging he did it. 

" Who helped you ? " asked the teacher. 

" No one helped me," said he; " I was alone when I put it 
on." 

" Do you think anyone else put any on ? " again asked 
the teacher. 

He said : " The Blakely girl might have put some on." 

" What makes you think so? " asked the teacher. 

" Because I saw her go in alone just after I did ; and I 
judge her as she did me." 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 239 

The teacher said: "It is quite a righteous judg-ment." 
She also said: "I am satisfied others put pepper on the 
stove besides you ; but since you take the whole blame on 
yourself, and say you did not see anyone else, I believe 
you, and, for your truthfulness, will forgive you, and dismiss 
the case." 

Mrs. Somers was a very sensible lady, and believed in 
encouraging truth in children by kindness, rather than pun- 
ishing them for any little misdemeanor after they had 
frankly acknowledged it. 

Would there were more such teachers in our public 
schools. 

When Charlie related the storj' to me — for he always told 
me his little faults — I explained to him how dangerous such 
tricks were, and also told him he had laid himself liable to 
the law. 

Charlie and his mates were quite fond of hunting and 
fishing. One day he and Sammie went off fishing to 
Washoe Lake. The boat they took proved to be a leaky 
one ; and when they were some distance out on the lake, 
the boat began to fill. 

He said to Sammie: "Pull for your life for the shore, 
while I bale her out." 

" What with ? " said Sammie. 

" I will show you," said he, taking off a new hat he had 
just bought the day before, and commenced dipping away. 

" Oh ! you will spoil your hat," remarked Sammie. 
" Better do that," said Charlie, " than sink in the lake. I 
can't swim." 

"Goodness! " said Sammie ; and he fairly made the boat 
fly till he reached the shore. 

They did not try fishing any more that day ; but went 
off in the mountains hunting game. They returned home 
that night with two rabbits, the fruit of their day's labor. 
I asked Charlie how he spoiled his hat. 



240 Ten Years in Nevada. 

He said : " It is not spoiled ; it is just the thing for the 
theater," and away he ran with it to his room. 

In one of Charlie's hunting expeditions, he and his friend, 
Gussey Nye, got strayed away from the rest of thei-" com- 
pany ; and as they did not reach camp as soon as the rest, 
the boys thought they had given them the slip and gone 
home. As soon as they had got their suppers, they broke 
up camp and started home. 

Charlie and Gussey were still in the mountains, but were 
soon driven into camp by a sudden snow storm ; but behold ! 
when they reached it cold and hungry, there was nothing 
but the bare ground. 

" The boys have gone and left us," said Gussey ; " we 
will have to foot it to Virginia City." 

" We can't go eleven miles in this storm to-night,'^ said 
Charlie, "but we can reach the cabin, two miles from here, 
by dark ; so let us be going." 

Before they reached Virginia City they gave out three 
times, and then laid down to rest. They would soon get up 
and start on their journey ; for to give up they knew was 
to freeze to death in the snow. They finally reached the 
cabin, whe-re they went in and fell exhausted to the floor. 
The man who owned the cabin knew the boys, covered 
them with blankets, and gave them warm tea to drink. 
After awhile they recovered, and ate a nice warm supper 
which the man had prepared, and then all turned in for the 
night. The next day being fine and clear, they started for 
home, at which place they reached some time in the after- 
noon just as the boys were about to start back after them, 
for they had sent to my house for Charlie. 1 told the boy 
who came that he was off with a hunting party. When the 
boy told them what I said, they sent him to Nyes', and re- 
ceived the same answer. They now became alarmed, and 
were just going out to find them as the boys appeared on 
the scene, when they all set up a shout of welcome. They 



Life en the Paeifie Coast. 241 

told Charlie how frightened they had been when they found 
the other boy had not come home. 

I think this cured CharHe of his love for hunting, for he 
never went again. 

Gussey Nye was a very nice boy, and of one of the best 
families of the place. He and Charlie were almost like 
brothers, being inseparable. Their tastes in sport were 
very much alike, therefore always agreed, although both 
were very quick-tempered. If Gussey became angry,, 
Charlie laughed ; if Charlie's anger was aroused, Gussey 
laughed. This was their way of settling disputes. Gussey 
had a little brother whom I think Charlie loved as well as 
he could have loved an own brother. He was run over by 
the cars, which caused his death. This was the first corpse 
that Charlie ever went voluntarily and looked at. He was 
a sweet child, and no wonder Charlie loved him, 

Charlie was very orderly about his room until he com- 
menced acting in the theater; and then it was enough to 
break one's neck to get through his room. In less than 
half an hour after I had done up his work, books, papers, 
and wardrobe would be scattered promiscuously over bed, 
table, chairs, and floor, especially while he was learning to 
do lightning changes. 

I did not wish him to go on the stage," but he seemed to 
preler it to any other profession. And as I do not believe 
in forcing children against their will to any trade or pro- 
fession, but to let them do what they are most capable of, 
I let him have his choice. 

I will now leave Charlie and his doings for awhile, and 
return to the description of Virginia City and some of its 
curiosities. 

The cemeteries of Virginia City are almost as numerous 
as the different orders. 

The Masons, Odd Fellows, and firemen have their ground. 
Wilson & Brown have theirs for the benefit of those who 

16 



242 Toi Years hi Nevada. 

do not belong to secret orders, and v.'ho do not wish to be 
buried in the city grounds. The CathoHcs and Jews have 
theirs. These grounds all join, or are all in the immediate 
vicinity of each other. 

They are very handsomely laid out, and are well kept 
and irrigated, nearly every grave having choice plants and 
flowers. The yards are all supplied with water tanks and 
hose, and a man is constantly employed to care for them. 

The Gold Hill. cemeteries are also very nice. The monu- 
ments and tombstones here, as well as in Virginia Citv, are 
some of the finest I ever saw. My brother is buried in the 
Gold Hill Cemeter}'. 

The County House has still another on the slope just 
back of its building. The Chinese grounds join this. 

When the Chinamen bury their dead, they place food, 
candies, etc., on the graves for their gods to eat wiiile 
watching over them. After their funerals are over, and 
they have gone back to Chinatown, the Piutes go out and 
eat up the provisions, making a regular feast on cold hams, 
turkeys, and chickens. Sometimes they would get caught, 
and a fight be the result. 

The curiosities of Virginia City are many in number. 

One of them is a sheep, owned by a man who keeps a 
livery stable. It will go every morning to the nearest sa- 
loon, put his fore paws upon the bar, and bleat for his 
morning dram. After he is waited upon he will go out of 
the door, look up and down the sidewalk until he sees some 
old friend coming. He will then go and meet him, and fol- 
low him about until he gives him a chew of tobacco, 
when he will walk off to the stable and lie down. He is a 
fine, fat fellow, and quite intelligent-looking. 

Another curiosity is the whipping-post, erected in 1876 
for the punishment of men who were in the habit of whip- 
ping their wives. 

One justice there would never sentence men to be tied 



I 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 243 

to it and whipped, although many were guilty of whipping 
their wives. it was a large post the size of a man, with a 
cross piece ; it is simply a cros^ about six teet high. For 
this reason the justice was nicknamed " Holy Moses." 

Another curiosity is a fence owned by the same man 
who owns the sheep. It is over twenty feet high, and has 
to be braced by long timbers joined on to his house to 
keep the wind from blowing it down. This fence was put 
up to keep his neighbor's wife from looking over — a woman 
scarcely four feet high. 

If the house on one side takes tire, the one on the oLher 
side will be in no danger, tor no flames can scale its top. 

1 think if he takes it to the next Centennial, he will be 
sure to secure the first prize. 

After I became acquainted with Mr. French, I asked him ^ 
what became of the man that murdered my brother. 
He said : " He ran away." 

Did you, or anyone, offer to arrest him ? " I asked. 
"No," said he; " we were going to, but Charles would 
not let us. He said, ' Let him live and repent. His dying 
will do me no good. I do not believe in legal murder.' 
And Elgin did repent, so I was told ; for he was seen 
four years after your brother's death, and he was a 
walking skeleton. He said he thought Charles a des- 
perado like himself, or he would never have shot him. 
I tried to persuade Charles, but he wouldn't hear a word 
of it." 

When I heard this, I determined to let the murderer go, 
since it Avas my brother's dying request. 

I wrote immediately to my parents, informing them of 
what I had heard, and asked them w^hat I should do. 
They wrote me to respect my brother's wishes. 
I afterwards learned, through a man styling himself his 
friend, that he was in Virginia City, and about starting in 
business. 



244 Ten Years in Nevada. 

He then said : " Do you intend to do anything about 
arresting him ? " 

I suppose he wanted to let him know if I did. 

I said : I do not intend to go and hunt him up ; and as 
long as he keeps out of my sight I will not arrest him, since 
it was my brother's request. But if he comes here, he must 
take the consequences, for he and I can never live in Vir- 
ginia City at the same time unless he is a prisoner. 

He said : " I saw him not fifteen minutes before I came 
here." 

I then said : I will give you $25 to point him out to me. 

He said : '' No, I will not do that ; but I will see him,, 
and tell him what you say, and find out whether he intends 
to stop. If he does, I will let you know." 

He also said : " Elgin was secreted in a lodging-house 
at American Flat, the night of the murder, till after twelve 
o'clock. The same parties furnished him with team and 
provisions, and run him off into the Washoe Mountains, 
where he staid all winter." 

I never heard of anyone there by the name of Elgin, and 
think his friend must have warned him to stay away. 

Mr. Jones, the milkman, also told me that Charles re- 
quested the people to let the man go. 

My brother was very much opposed to hanging, even 
when quite a young boy. He thought imprisonment for 
life quite sufficient for any crime, and it seems he carried 
out his principles to the day of his death. 

As I have said before, my brother had no bad habits 
when he left home, and I wished to see if his life in Ne- 
vada had changed him. I asked Mr. French if he became 
wild or dissolute, as many do out there. I asked him if he 
ever used profane language or gambled. 

He said : " No, he never gambled, but he often played 
checkers for amusement ; and the nearest I ever heard him 
coiiie to swearing, was one day when I was unloading 



A 



Life on the Paeific Coast. 245 

whisky at my store, I saw him coming-, and told the boys 
I would hav^e some fun with him. When he came up I 
asked him to give us a lift on this barrel. * No,' said he ; 
' I will not touch it. I would sooner send the soul-destroy- 
ing stuff to h — 1.' Now that is the nearest I ever heard him 
come to swearing." 

The reader will see by this that he neither gambled, 
drank, nor used profane language. 

What happiness to me to be able to send back such tid- 
ings to his parents ! 

It was a great consolation to them to know that their 
darling son had died possessed of the same principles they 
Lad instilled into his mind in youth. 

Now, what could a young man, possessed of no bad hab- 
its, be doing for seven long years, and not be worth any- 
thing ? 

Mr. Waters says " he had streaks of good sense above 
the average." 

I have a statement in my possession, written by one, INIr. 
Carter, whom I sent to Mr. Waters to make some inquiries 
about my brother. The statement says that "Charles was 
a very simple fellow, and did not know much." 

This does not seem to correspond with the above state- 
ment. 

I called at their house one day, and made myself known 
to Mrs. Waters. 

She said : " Seems to me 3'ou have been a good while 
coming round." 

I told her I had called to see what she could tell me 
about my brother. 

" Well," said she, " he died three days after he was shot. 
I took care of him all the time he was sick. He didn't suf- 
fer a bit. But you needn't worry yourself, for he couldn't 
live, no way ; he was in the last stages of consumption. I 
made him some medicine for his cough, and used my own 



246 Ten Years in Nevada. 

money to get it. It only cost ' two bits,' but he said he 
hadn't the money to buy it. And I loaned him money to 
buy a suit of clothes, as he had not a decent suit in which 
to go to Lincoln's funeral till he got them ; and they came 
real good to bury him in, if they were cheap." 

I asked her what they were. 

She said : " Just common brown tweed." 

The above conversation she rattled off, hardly stopping 
to breathe, as though she had purposely committed it to 
memory for the occasion. 

Now Mr. Waters had written "he was a man weighing 
somewhere near two hundred." 

I do not exactly remember the figures. And also said 
" he was in good health generally." 

At his examination he also said : " I loaned him money 
to buy a suit of clothes." 

In one of his letters he says : " I loaned him money ta 
buy a nice suit of clothes in which to appear at Lincoln's 
funeral procession, but he told me they were stolen from 
his cabin some weeks before his death." 

Now, reader, who spoke the truth, think you ? or could 
it be possible both bought him a suit of clothes for the same 
occasion ? 

If so, how much more generous Mr. Waters was than 
his wife, and how very fortunate that both suits were not 
taken ! 

Perhaps you think as I do, that neither of them told the 
truth, for I have Mr. Scott's afifidavit, in which he states 
that he spent two weeks at the house of Judge Watson, 
where my brother boarded, and saw him ever)- day. 

He said : " He was dressed in a good business suit the 
night he came there, and all the week ; but I noticed Sun- 
day he dressed up in a nice suit of black. He also had a 
silver watch and black cord." 

He said : " I had a long talk with him when I found his 



Life oil the Pacijic Coast. 247 

name was McNair, as I was acquainted with all his rela- 
tives at Dansville and Mt. Morris, in Livingston County, 
N. Y." (Mr. Scott is now living at Canaseraga, Livingston 
County, N. Y.) 

Mr. Scott's story tallies exactly with Captain John Day's, 
ex-surveyor-general of the State of Nevada, who said he 
was dressed in a nice suit of black when he came to get 
him to survey the mill-site. 

Mr. Scott saw him in '63, and he was killed two years 
later. 

Others, who knew him at Todd's Valley and Gold Run, 
told the same story, that he always dressed up on Sunday. 
He would never work on that day for himself or anyone 
else. 

I was not only told this by those who knew him, but I 
learned it from his private papers. There were several 
contracts for running tunnels, each one to be run so many 
feet each day of the week till the work was completed, 
Sun*da3's excepted. 

Mr. French also said he always dressed well. 

I did not find as many people in Virginia City who were 
acquainted with m}- brother as I expected, as people move 
around so from place to place. I found a great many 
people in different parts of California who knew him. 1 
have a great many letters from these people, and all speak 
in the highest terms of him. 

One said : " His death was the result of his exalted pa- 
triotism, which was superior to the more cool and calcu- 
lating politician." 

My brother was like myself ; he never allowed obstacles 
to hinder him from accomplishing anything he undertook. 
In his diary 1 read an account of his swimming the Platte 
River. It was when he was en route for California. It seems 
his cow got away from him in the night, and swam to an 
island in the river. 



248 Ten Years in Nevada. 

While the rest of the company were preparing break- 
fast, he went to look for his cow. When he found her, she 
had a young calf by her side. He picked the calf up in his 
arms and swam back to the shore, leaving the cow to fol- 
low. When he reached the shore, he said he presented a 
very laughable appearance in his coat of ice, which he soon 
replaced by a dry suit. 

From all that 1 learned while searching out his affairs, { 
am satisfied he was not a poor man, but was the owner of a 
large estate, the whole of which I have not succeeded in 
getting into my possession, but hope to the next time 1 
visit the Coast. 

I think my brother must have displayed a great deal of 
pride in dress to have appeared in a suit of brown tweed 
at the funeral of the savior of our country, when every 
miner dresses up in a nice suit after his work is done for 
the day. I cannot see how he came to be so far behind the 
other miners as not to keep a decent suit. 

Reader, I don't believe a word of his not having a decent 
suit, neither do you. 

Speaking of brother Charles reminds me of an anecdote 
related by my brother Hugh when he was down from the 
West. He said Charles had a balky horse, and he said to 
him one day, " Why don't you get rid of that horse ? " 

Charles replied: " I cannot; no one wants her." 

" That is because you let everybody know she is balky," 
said Hugh. 

" Well, what shall I tell them ? " asked Charles. 

" Don't tell them anything," replied Hugh ; "if they do 
not ask you, let them find it out themselves." 

"And get their neck broke ! " exclaimed Charles. " Well, 
I shan't do anything of the kind. You are a pretty Metho- 
dist to give such advice! " 

Hugh said that after studying the thing over, he began 
to think Charles was rig-ht. 



CHAPTER X. 

Chinatown and John Chinaman of Virginia City. 

jg.HINATOWN, of Virginia City, is like Ciiinatown of 
^^ every other city of the Coast — a loathsome, hlthy den. 
It is enough to breed cholera or an}- other pestilential dis- 
ease. 

It is situated at the north-east end of the city, on a part 
of the only lev^el ground in the place, and might be made 
the handsomest part of it were it not for this filthy race of 
people. All the drainage of Virginia City is allowed to 
pass through their place in streams of filth over the surface, 
and is conducted in ditches to their gardens, to irriirate 
them, instead of buying water. 

It is in the immediate vicinity of the Alexander Brothers' 
milk ranch, which, together with their own filth, makes it 
almost impossible for white people to pass through with- 
out holding their handkerchiefs to their noses. 

A person wishing, for curiosity, to make a visit to their 
town, and go through all of their dens, ought to have his 
clothing and head thoroughly saturated with bay rum and 
camphor. A person ought to carry a bottle of carbolic 
acid in one hand and a pail of chloride of lime in the other, 
to insure himself against catching some loathsome disease. 

I never visited an}^ of their places in Virguiia City except 
wash-houses and the brick store, and their " Josh House." 
The brick store is owned b}' a rich Chinaman, who is the 
head man of one of the companies. The store was well 



250 Ten Years in Nevada. 

filled with groceries — any amount of rice being done up in 
sacks. They also had large quantities of hams and bacon, 
and all kinds of foreign nuts and dried fruit. There was no 
end to their variety of candy, but the most loathsome kind 
to look at, and in taste, too. I do not know how any per- 
son can eat it. They have one kind which seems to re- 
semble fat meat cut in slices, and preserved in sugar till it 
is all candied over on the outside. 

I wonder what kind they fed Anna Dickinson on ? I 
think if she had seen some of the sights I have seen, she 
would not care to be entertained by any more Celestial 
gentlemen. I think they are the filthiest set of people 1 
ever met. 

1 have stood in my door and looked through a kitchen 
Avindow, which opened into my yard, and have seen^them, 
with a fork, take a rat from a kettle in which they were 
cooking it for boarders, bring it to the window on the fork 
to cool, then strip the flesh off with their teeth, and then 
throw it in my yard. I examined it to make sure I was not 
deceived. 

When I lived on G Street I was not over thirty rods 
from this town. I could stand on my back porch and see 
them skinning rats, but could hardly believe it — when I 
was told that that was what they were doing — till I went 
down and passed by the steps where they were at work. 

I have been told that a rat pie is a great Christmas 
dish with them. They hold their Christmas the same as 
we do. They generally keep up Christmas and New Year 
a whole month. They build a large ring in the street, like 
a race-track, only no larger than the street will allow. 
They then take fire-crackers and join them together by a 
fuse, and when the entire ring is complete, and it is dark, 
they set fire to it ; and every instant one of these goes off or 
explodes, or as fast as the ring is burned up, another train 
is laid. This is kept up day and night the Avhole time. Also 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 251 

larg-e bunches of fire-crackers are tied to their doors. This 
IS done, they say, to drive the devils away. They have a 
very merry time at this season of the year. 

Tlieir "Josh House " is the only place they seem to take 
any pride in. It is their place of worship. They keep it 
very neat and nice. There is a curiously-built altar at one 
side covered with heathen gods, of all sizes and kinds, both 
wood and iron. It is arranged very tastefully, and orna- 
mented with all kinds of china toys, some of which are very 
handsome. 

They show great skill in making t03's, especially bird and 
butterfl3'-kitcs ; but I never heard of any useful inventi(jn. 

They learn the American language ver}' readily, 

I copy here a letter from the Clwonicle, written by one of 
them to a gentleman of Virginia City : 

Hong Kong, May 30, 1879. 
jSIr. Webber & Gumbert, 

My Dear Sir: On the a few months ago I left you in 
Virginia City for I to China returned Home and give my 
visit to your all family lor my information I ma}- state also 
I will come back within six months the useful of request 
my father & mother order I believe. See you again please 
give my compliment to see you with many obliged. 

I am sir your most friend. You treats me very much 
kindness how shall I compensate you. Owing to your hap- 
piness I have to ask you to do me favour to look out a situ- 
ation for me you very well keep it memory. When you 
have do a suitable berth you will send my word. 

Topsv. 

They also will do all kinds of our work. They will scrub 
and clean, or tidy up a house as nice as any American, but 
the most of them are slow. They will do everything you 
tell them to do if you stand over them or watch them ; but 
if they can slight anything, they are sure to do it. 



252 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Any person employing them never knows what he is 
eating-. They are always tasting the victuals, especially 
soups. They will take up a dish, eat what they want of it, 
and back the rest goes in the kettle. Those who know 
how, make very nice pastry — that is, if you know not how 
it is made. Their pastry is veiy tempting-looking ; but 
when you see them take milk in their mouths and spirt it 
over the bread, biscuit, and pies, instead of using a swab of 
white cloth, as Americans do, I think many of you Eastern 
people would hardly fancy their mode of basting pastry. 

They are just as filthy about many other things they do. 
I had a good chance to see many of their filthy habits. 
Washing their feet in the dish-pan was a common occur- 
rence. They are regular eye-servants. I asked a lady why 
she employed them. 

She said : " They will do things for us I would not like 
to ask a white person to do ; besides, they never tell any 
family affairs like white girls do ; but they tear my clothes 
to pieces, in washing them, faster than I can make them." 

Nearly every house among them is a wash-house, and 
each one is but one story. The tops of the houses are cov- 
ered with a fioor, raised level on the peak by placing pieces 
of timber on the slanting part to raise the floor to the level 
with the peak, then around the four edges of this place is a 
railing four or five feet high. The longest sides have holes 
bored through, and ropes run across, all one wa}-, about 
two feet apart, where they always dry their-clothes. They 
are generally good washers and ironers. 

They have in their houses large barrel-tubs. These they 
let cold water run into constantly, and at the same time it 
is running out in another direction. This keeps the suds 
clean all the time ; but they waste a great amount of water. 
They gather their clothes in a wad, and strike them on a 
board with such force that it takes the dirt out of them, but 
it |.akes the garment to pieces at the same time. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 253 

If they can get a river to wash by, as they can in most of 
the Calilornia towns, they get a large boulder by the side 
of it, or a barrel, block, or box, anything solid. They then 
soap the clothes, dip them in the river, and then strike them 
on the stone, or whatever they have, and continue this till 
the garment is clean ; they then scald and rinse them, and 
hang them up. 

They are good hands to do up starched clothes. They 
always sprinkle their clothes with their mouth, taking nearly 
half a pint of water in their mouth at once. [ have seen 
them sprinkle three large garments with one mouthful ol 
water. The most of them sprinkle them as they iron them, 
such as dress skirts ; and all the while they are ironing, one 
will hold the water in his mouth, every few moments spirt- 
ing it on the dress till it is finished. 

But who wants to wipe his mouth, face, or eyes on a 
handkerchief, towel, or napkin, or lay his victuals on a 
table-cloth, that a Chinaman has spit on, when perhaps, at 
the same time, he is nearly dead with some loathsome dis- 
ease, so that his face is one corrupt mass ? 

Who wishes to take the chances on such things ? 
I do not think Henry Ward Beecher could have seen 
much of their doings to have been so taken with them, or 
else he must be in his dotage. He may be a splendid lect- 
urer, but he is certainly not a scientific inspector of China- 
men. What he could learn in a few days in San Francisco 
is not like ten years of every-day observation in a place 
wh-ere you meet hundreds a day. 

They are a very quarrelsome race, always fighting among 
themselves. It is unsafe to pass through their quarters after 
dark. There are in Virginia City two parties, and they are 
hardly ever at peace. They cause the city a great deal of 
trouble and expense. 

Beecher says they are a very harmless people. There 
must be a superior race of them in San Francisco, for I 



254 T'^^^ Years in Nevada. 

have heard of two or three murders that some of them 
have committed in Virginia City. One was a colored cook, 
a very peaceable man, who was stabbed by an under-cook. 

If American people were ever cursed by anything, it is 
by this miserable, thieving, murderous, licentious, filthy, 
pestilential race of heathens. 

There are many reasons why they should be banished 
from the land, if there is a law to do it ; and if there is not. 
Government should revise its statutes, and make one as 
speedily as possible. 

First, because they are a very treacherous race, and an}^- 
one does not know what moment they will turn on him in 
his own house. I remember when I was at Mrs. Burk- 
halter's, at Dutch Flat, of one coming into her kitchen and 
demanding money of her, and of her calling me into the 
room because she was afraid of him. He had only worked 
a short time, but demanded pay for a month. 

She told him if he staid there the month out, she would 
give him pay for a month. 

He would not, and thinking she was alone, would scare 
her. When he saw she was not alone, he left. 

Another reason is for their awful thieving. No one knows 
when they will rob the house and leave. You can't always 
stay at home ; and if you go, you have to take your 
chances. 

The third reason is their awfully filthy habits. All they 
want is two rooms, one to wash in, the other to iron, eat, 
and sleep in. They have their table reach from one end of 
the room to the other, with a curtain around it. 

Under this table they pack the dirty clothes they have 
gathered from fifty or a hundred people, perhaps half of 
them sick people, with half a dozen kinds of fevers, and 
other infectious diseases. 

Well, when it is bedtime they crawl into these dirty 
clothes and sleep. I was told this, but could not believe 



Life en tlie Pacific Coast. 255 

it. The party who told me this went to a wash-house, 
rapped at the door very early, and receivini^ no answer, 
opened it. The room was still, and nothins^ but the cur- 
tained table to be seen. When we called out John — for that 
is the name all Chinamen go by — a Chinaman raised the 
curtain, and asked what we wanted. We asked him it he 
could do some washing for us. At this the curtain was 
raised in different places till I counted eleven heads. 

Their spokesman, who seemed to be boss, said : " Me get 
up soon, thenee you comee. I ketchee washce." 

As they lifted the curtain, I could see that the filthy 
clothes they had gathered the day before were used for 
their bed. 

In a little while we went back, and they were all eating 
rice and drinking tea. So the bed answered for a table. 

I counted four of them with faces perfectly disfigured 
with swellings, another with an ulcerated sore face, being 
one mass of corruption, and two in the last stages of con- 
sumption ; yet they all ate and slept together. I was told 
that they sometimes slept on the top when there were too 
many to sleep below. 

The stench that came from that room when we first 
opened the door was enough to breed an epidemic in the 
month of January. I only wish some of the Eastern tour- 
ists, who are so taken with them, could have inhaled one 
breath from that den ; and it is the same in every wash- 
house. 

The fourth reason is the way they are breaking the wages 
of the honest, hard-working man by their cheap labor. 

They can afford to work cheap when they live on com- 
paratively nothing. 

They can live on a pound of rice a day, and a little tea : 
and if they can't, they can steal the rest. They are very 
lond of ham and bacon ; these they can steal from restau- 
rants and groceries. They are also fond of chickens and 



256 Tc'i Years in Nevada. 

any kind of poultry ; and if they cannot steal them, they 
will buy them. 

There was an old fellow among them who had stolen so 
many that he was called " Chicken-Charlie," and there was 
scarcely a week but he was in jail. 

A cook and two dish-washers will steal enough from one 
boarding-house in a month to last them all winter, if they 
happen to get discharged. 

They are very fond of soup of any kind. They eat with 
a small whalebone a foot long, which is made in an oval 
shape, while the other is square. They hold three or four 
of these in each hand, and by very rapid movements of the 
hand, they sling their food into their mouths with these 
sticks which they hold, so that the square points all come 
together and form a sort of scoop. They can eat soup or 
rice, or any solid food with them more rapidly than you 
can eat with a knife; and all the time they will keep up an 
unceasing chattering at their meals. It is a perfect babel. 

It is quite a sight to see them eat with the chop sticks I 
have just described. 

The poor white laborers have no show where they are, 
because as long as rich capitalists can get their cheap work 
they will do so. A white man with a family cannot live on 
rice and stealings. He has to pay from $12 to $20 for wood,. 
$25 for coal, and from %\o to $50 for a house a month ; 3 
and 4 cents for potatoes and apples ; $1 for a pound and a 
quarter of butter; 10 cents a pound for beans ; 25 and 35 
cents a pound for beef; 12 and 15 cents for sugar, and other 
groceries in proportion. 

Now, if wages are put down, what is he to do ? 

There is but one way for him to do, and that is, do as the 
thieving Chinamen do — be lodked up from their families 
two-thirds of the time, and let the city support them, or let 
them starve. 

The Chinamen have no families in this country, or at 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 257 

least but few of them have. They say the respectable 
women do not come to this country. But I do not think 
the Pacific Coast will tolerate them much longer. I see that 
they are not allowed to enter Leadvillc. Would it were so 
all over the United States ! 

There is another reason why they should be banished. 
Our little daughters are not safe under the same roof with 
them, asVirginia City, Gold Hill, Carson City, San Francisco, 
Sacramento, and other places on the Coast can testify to. 

Some of the best and most respectable people of these 
places have had their feelings lacerated, their hearts filled 
with anguish, on account of the sufferings brought upon 
their little children, all the wa}- from four to twelve years 
of age — mere babes ruined for life. 

Go ask these heart-broken parents if they would have 
them stay, you that are so anxious for China slaves. 

Their answer would be, banish them, now and forever! 

If you think I am overdoing this picture, go search the 
records of the San Francisco, V'^irginia City, Gold Hill, 
and Carson City papers. There you will find things re- 
corded too horrible to be mentioned here, and too sicken- 
ing to be repeated. I only wonder at the forbearance of 
these crushed parents. 

Again, there is still another reason. They have com- 
menced intermarrying in our nation. 

These moon-faced creatures will in a few years, if things 
are not changed, ruin our country. 

Another great reason they should be banished is to pre- 
vent their bringing the leprosy on our nation. There are 
several well-known cases in San Francisco where some of 
them sit on the public streets and ask alms of the people, 
and I have heard of two white cases already. 

How long, think you, before this baneful disease would 
sweep through the entire length and breadth of our glori- 
ous America ? 



17 



258 TeJi Years vi Nevada. 

I have seen them carrying baskets of clothes on the main 
streets, through large crowds of men, women, and children, 
when their faces looked as if the flesh would drop off one 
part, while the other was as spotted as an adder, with blue 
and white spots, and the stench as you passed them would 
make you carry your handkerchief to your mouth and nose 
till they were lost sight of in the crowd. 

Now, such a person is not safe, and ought not to be al- 
lowed on the streets. If the board of health would look a 
little after these Celestials, they would prevent a great deal 
of the contagious diseases of Virginia City. 

I do not think it safe to wear clothes of their washing, 
for they are as apt to wash their own clothes with yours as 
any other way. It is just as safe to wash in the same basin 
with them. I do not and never did take such chances on 
my life. 

There is not a city in the United States visited by more 
travelers than San Francisco. How long, then, would it 
take to spread this loathsome disease ? 

Another reason we do not want them is they never leave 
a cent of the money they get in this country, but carry it 
all off to China, draining our country ot its wealth, impov- 
erishing the land, and with their cheap labor starve our 
white people until they are driven to crimes of the deepest 
dye. 

This is so, and there is no gainsaying it. The people of 
the Pacific Coast know it is the living truth. 

The Chinamen, I am told, pay no license for washing, 
but a poor, little, half-starved, bare-footed, half-naked boot- 
black, with a face, heart, and conscience as white as the 
best of you law-makers — he who earns enough to keep 
from starving — has to pay a license, or is locked up. 

If a widow with half a dozen children starts any of them 
out with a basket of fruit, candy, pop-corn, and so forth . 
or a poor one-armed cripple in the same business, they, who 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 259 

can make a living in no other way, have to pay out all they 
can get for quarterly license, or are lugged off to jail, while 
the moon-taced Chinaman engages in whatever he will, and 
^oes free. 

Is it any wonder that our jails and prisons are filled with 
men and boys, who might, if allowed a chance to make an 
honest living, and encouraged in industry, or business of 
an)'- kind, grow up to men of honor, and be a blessing to the 
community? 

Here is a study for you law-makers. For their sakes, as 
Avell as for the good of the public, let the boys and girls 
engage in any kind of business they may chose to make a 
living at without a license, until they are of age, and they 
Mall bless you, and God will bless you ; and if you will and 
must keep the Chinamen here, make them leave a part of 
their money here by paying license. 

Again, their opium dens, which seem to defy all police 
power to break up, are a nuisance, and are also ruining our 
people, for many have become slaves to this most destruc- 
tive habit. 

Not only men and women visit the opium dens, but I am 
informed, by good authority, that girls and boys visit them, 
and often have to be helped home by their companions. 

Girls and boys, from twelve to twenty, are daily being 
ruined by this opium smoking. 

I never visited one of these dens, but have had them de- 
scribed to me. 

A table sets in the center of the room, a dish of opium 
upon that, and long pipes for each smoker is dipped in this, 
and they lie on bunks around the table and smoke till they 
become unconscious. 

After a person once smokes, he has created an appetite 
for a vice that he has no power or wish to refrain from. 

You who are so far from these scenes of vice have no 
idea of the baneful effects of this pernicious habit. It is 



26o Ten Years in Nevada. 

utter ruin to smoke the first pipe, for there is but one way 
to keep them from it afterwards, and that way is the walls 
of an asylum. 

The Chinamen are of a low, groveling nature, and will 
take any amount of abuse, and even a whipping, before they 
will lose their place ; but they are sure to avenge them- 
selves afterwards in some way. 

The Chinamen, like the monkey, are very apt in learning 
all our ways. In fact, I think they are Darwin's connecting 
link between the white man and the monkey, for they seem 
to possess all his craft and cunning, and revengeful spirit. 

And now I have set the Chinamen before the people in 
their own true Celestial light. I have not exaggerated in 
the least. 

Let those who doubt me go and spend five years-^just 
half the time I did — and they will come away converted ; 
and I will warrant not a man of them will ever cast his vote 
for a man who is in favor of allowing them to come to this 
country, but will do all in his power by talking, voting or 
lecturing to keep such men out of office. 

The people of the Pacific Coast, as a mass, will never 
vote in favor of the Chinaman to go west of the Divide on 
this Continent. 

I warn you poor working-men of the East to save your- 
selves and families while there is yet time, or in five years 
more you will see these Celestials come pouring down over 
the eastern side of the Divide like a herd of buffaloes. Then, 
you may look for other means to support your families, for 
the paltry sum you now get will be reduced still lower. 

You now get from $i to $1.50 for a day's work, and many 
get but 50 cents ; but when your cities and towns are swarm- 
ing with filthy Chinamen, three to every cord of wood, cut- 
ting it for 50 cents, grabbing at every chore to be done,, 
reducing the price of labor on all public works, crowding 
you entirely out, or compelling you to work with them, at 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 261 

the risk of your life, for the same pittance they receive ; 
when you are compelled to do this, I say, or see your fami- 
lies starve before your eyes ; when even your girls, who 
are trying to assist you to bring up the younger members 
of your family go out to work and bring home their wages ; 
when they are driven out of the dish-water by China labon 
and compelled to beg in the streets, or do worse — then, O, 
then, it will be too late ! 

Now, my readers, this is no idle talk, lor these things are 
not far off, if Chinamen are allowed to continue their emi- 
gration to this country. 

Then work to keep them away. There is yet time. Cast 
your vote every time for a man of good sense, who will 
work for the interests of his country. 

They say we cannot prevent them from coming ; our 
Constitution allows them to come ; we cannot help our- 
selves, and we cannot go contrary to the Constitution. 

Can't we ? Well, now, let us see. 

First, I would like to ask for what and for whom was the 
Constitution of the United States framed ? Was it for the 
benefit of foreign nations, or for the people of the United 
States? 

Let history answer. 

A convention of deputies from the States of New Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Caro- 
lina, South Carolina, and Georgia, at a session beginning 
May 25, and ending September 17, 1787, said : 

** We, the people of the United States, in order to form 
a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic 
tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the 
general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to our- 
selves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Con- 
stitution for the United States of America." 

Now, what is plainer than this ? 



262 Ten Years in Nevada. 

If the great and wise men who formed the Constitution 
formed it for their own and their posterity, as they said 
they did (and not one of us doubt it), they intended to 
abide by it, and not allow other nations to come here and 
usurp our rights and privileges, and endanger our peace 
and happiness. No ! the Constitution was formed for the 
express benefit of " Uncle Sam " and his children. 

Foreigners were only allowed to come on the conditions 
that they were to be governed by our laws, and act exactly 
as " Uncle Sam " and his family did ; and even then, if they 
did not promote the welfare of the country, secure the 
blessings of prosperity to him and his family, he did not 
want them here. 

Now, do these moon-faced tramps promote our welfare 
or secure liberty or happiness ? 

Not a bit of it. They are taking our liberty and our liv- 
ing from us. Then out with them, you law-makers, and at 
once ! 

But you say again, the Constitution allows them to come. 
Then change the Constitution, I say. If you cannot get 
rid of the Chinaman by the Constitution, do it by the 
Declaration of Independence, which was formed eleven 
years and two months and thirteen days before the Consti- 
tution was thought of. 

The Declaration says we are endowed by our Creator 
with certain inalienable rights ; that among these are life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ; that to insure these 
rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers from the consent of the governed ; that 
when any form of government becomes destructive of 
these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish 
it, and to institute a new government. A little further on 
it says it is our right, it is our duty, to throw off such a 
government, and to provide new guards for our future 
security. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 263 

Now, what I would ask is plainer than all this. 

Let us desert the Declaration, and see what it does mean. 
•It says we are endowed by our Creator. That means the 
people of the United States. 

It tells us to make laws to secure our rights, happiness, 
and liberty ; and if these laws are not sufficient to secure 
these ends, to throw them away and secure new ones for 
our future security. 

Now, is our life, liberty, or happiness safe while the 
Chinamen are allowed to go rampant over our land where- 
ever they choose, and deal pestilence to all, and famine 
to the poor? This is what their coming among us means. 

Again, the Declaration says in substance, if not in words, 
that it our grievances are too great to be borne, submit 
facts to a candid world. Now this is just what we propose 
to do. 

If we can alter our Constitution in one clause, we can in 
another. 

Abraham Lincoln found a way to change it and free the 
colored people ; why cannot President Hayes change it 
again, and free us from the Chinamen ? 

This is a subject that demands the immediate attention 
of both houses, and they will have to give it their attention 
sooner or later. 

jNIay God speed the time, and direct them in their judg- 
ment. 



i 



CHAPTER XI. 

The Snow-Sheds. 

HAVE often been asked by Eastern people what the 
snow-sheds were. 

For the benefit of those who have never visited the Coast, 
I will say they are long sheds built over the railroad, to 
protect it from the heavy snow-storms to which California 
is subject, especially in the Sierra Mountains. Were it not 
lor these sheds, the roads would be blockaded half of the 
winter season. They are used all along the line of the road 
in different places up to the Rocky Mountains, wherever 
the road is most subject to drift. 

These sheds are constantly getting burned. Sometimes 
two and three miles of them will lie in smoking ruins from 
one fire. I remember one morning, before it was scarcely 
light, of being aroused by a din of voices, tools, and shuf- 
fling of lumber. The cars were standing still, and seemed 
full of smoke. I could hardly breathe. 1 inquired the 
cause, and was told that several miles of sheds were burned 
and lay in ruins upon the track, which must be cleared off 
before we could proceed. They had burned during the 
night, having caught fire from some passing train. 

The roofs of these sheds sometimes break in beneath the 
weight of snow on them, and thus blockade the road for 
two or three days at a time. Before these sheds were built 
the road over the Rocky Mountains was often blockaded 
with heavy storms. 



Life en the Pacific Coast. 265 

The reader will doubtless remember, some twelve years 
iigo, when the emigrant trains were snowed in, and the pas- 
sengers came near starving. This was before snow-sheds 
were built. 

Although California is such a lovely climate, there are 
many places where it has fearful storms, the snow often fall- 
ing iifteen and twenty feet deep in Sierra County, and at 
Donneyville, near Donney Lake. I have heard many of my 
friends say they have traveled thirty and forty miles on 
snow-shoes, over snow ten and fifteen feet deep, where it 
was impossible for a horse to go. This was the only way 
that they had to get to towns and villages from the mount- 
ains to obtain food, or trade of any kind. The snow-shoe 
is a long, slim piece of timber about eight feet in length, 
two inches wide, and half an inch thick. It is polished 
very smooth. It turns up at the front end like a sled-shoe. 
It is fastened to the person's shoe by means of screws and 
straps, the foot being placed in the middle of the shoe. I 
have been told that persons can travel as fast with them as 
they can with a horse, for thev do not cut in the snow but 
glide smoothly over the crust. The shoe being so long, 
and running so swift, it takes them over ditches and caverns 
they could not possibly pass in any other way. I heard 
one lady tell about coming down the mountain one dav at 
such a fearful rate as to jump an old mining shaft four feet 
wide, which was nearly covered with snow, and came near 
going into it. 

The snow will fall in great depths on the mountains, while 
the valley of Lower California and all along the Coast are 
teeming with flowers. 

It is very nice to enjoy the beauties of summer and 
winter the same day. I could stand on my porch and 
look in any direction and see snow all the )-ear round, 
from January to dog-days. It was always to be seen on 
the mountains. 



266 Ten Years in Nevada. 

I have heard several of my intimate friends say they had 
lived in Sierra County when the snow was so deep that the 
one-story houses were completely snowed under, and the 
two-story ones were covered up to the top of the upper 
windows. They had to go out of these upper windows 
and sink shafts in the snow down to their doors and win- 
dows to let in air and light, hoisting the snow in large 
buckets. After this was done, they would run tunnels to 
their barns to feed the cattle. They also run tunnels from 
one street to another, and from one house to another all 
over the village, or cross on snow-shoes to the upper win- 
dows in order to get to stores and groceries. The}^ said 
these snows would last from one to two months before they 
melted away. But the snov/ is not as deep as this every 
year. 

I think I would sooner pitch my tent in the beautiful val- 
leys where I could. raise two crops a year, and always see 
the green grass and beautiful flowers, and where I could 
pick strawberries in January, and enjoy the other delicious 
fruits of this Garden of Eden. I think 1 should prefer 
these luxuries to running tunnels through snow-banks. In 
the valleys where there is no snow, it rains nearly all the 
winter. This is the time the crops grow best. 

The ranchers can raise two crops a year on the same 
ground. It is a great country for cattle, sheep, horses, and 
poultry of every variety. I was told by a lady that ^she 
had sold eggs and poultry to the amount of $i,ooo in a year. 
This was in early days when hens lay at six months old. 
Most of the soil is sand or gravel loam, of a reddish cast. 

It was a sight worth seeing to go out to the surface mines 
and see them, with their hydraulic pipes, washing down 
banks two hundred feet in height. They cut a niche in the 
bank at one end, and separate a piece about three feet wide 
from the main land, and then play the pipe on this till it is 
all washed away. The gold settles to the bottom. Large 



Life on the Pacific Coast. . 267 

pieces of ground often fall suddenly and cover the miner. 
He is buried in a living tomb. Some are dug out alive, but 
generally they are crushed or smothered before they are 
dug out. Many a poor man loses his life in this way. 

Writing of big and sudden storms reminds me of one 
that visited Virginia City in 1854. It commenced in the 
afternoon, and before morning the snow was three feet in 
many places. Everybody had to get the snow from his 
house to keep it from crushing in, while men received $1 
an hour, for several days, for shoveling snow.- The weather 
changed, and the snow began to melt and slide on the 
mountain-side. It came down in avalanches, and buried up 
several houses, which had to be dug out. But few people 
were hurt. I believe one sick lady and two children were 
dug out in one house, the woman being dead, but the chil- 
dren alive. This was said to be the biggest storm ever had in 
Virginia City, but not a sign of it remained at the end of a 
month ; but a boat would float in the mud on the streets. 



CHAPTER XII. 

The Free Lunch-House — Kansas Sufferers — The Piute Indians. 



T was about the ist of April, the year 'tj, that business 



I 



in Virginia City came to a state of stagnation, hundreds 
of men being out of employment. 

The mines and shops were thronged every day with men 
asking for a job to keep themselves and families from'starv- 
ing. The single men were every day being discharged, 
and men with families taking their place; and some of the 
single men were noble enough to volunteer to give up their 
place to friends who had families. 

Carpenter and other shops were also thronged hourly by 
men looking for work to keep the wolf from their door. 
Grocery men and merchants, and all business men, were 
sought after for a job twenty times a day. 

All the different offices in the city were overrun by appli- 
cants, but to no purpose. There was no show anywhere. 

Nearly all the mines were shut down, and rich stock- 
holders would not open them till they got ready, and that 
would be when every small stockholder was obliged to sell 
his little hoard of stock, which he had been holding for a 
raise, to keep his family from starving. 

Many had bought when they were quite high, and now 
they were lower; they hated to sell till they could get their 
money back. But the rich ones determined to make them 
sell, and they would not start up the mines, under one pre- 
text and another, till they were frozen out. 



Life on the Paeific Coast. 269 

In the meantime the streets were filled with starving 
men, women, and children. Oh, how the people needed a 
Sharon then to reach out a helping- hand ! But they had 
not. By their miserable ingratitude towards him in public 
affairs, he was giving them a good letting alone. 

He lived in San Francisco at this time, where he was 
probably appreciated. 

As I said, the streets were thronged, and still the people 
kept pouring in from the East. Men could not go to and 
from their places of business without being importuned to 
give "two bits" for a lunch, or "four bits" for a square 
meal. 

All cried out against it, for this constant call for " four 
bits" half a dozen times a day was draining their purses. 
Business men said it took all their profits ; miners said they 
gave away half of their wages. 

The newspapers were filled with complaints. The rich 
men, or at least some of them, said : " Shut them up for 
vagrants ! " 

But the jail was soon full of them. This raised city ex- 
penses. 

Everybody was afraid the city would be burned for the 
sake of plunder. The people asked the city to do some- 
thing. Houses were being broken into every day, and 
people knocked down and robbed. It was an everj^-day 
occurrence for men to be met by a masked mob and made 
to hold up their hands while their pockets were searched. 
The city was fast becoming demoralized, and yet no one 
put forth a hand to save the city from the calamity which 
threatened it. 

I for one could not sleep at nights for iear the city would 
be burned, and spent a good part of every night on my 
upper porch, looking for fires. 

Mrs. Beck was at my house one day, and we were speak- 
ing of the amount of poor people on the streets, when she 



2/0 Ten Years in Nevada. 

said she was afraid the city would go some night, and she had 
heai'd many express the same opinion. 

I said I had been afraid for some weeks, and there had 
been scarcely a night that I have not been up to my look- 
out to see if I could discover a fire anywhere in the city. 

She said she wished something might be done to relieve 
the suffering. 

While we were yet speaking, a man came out of the 
kitchen of Mr. Ryan's restaurant carrying a barrel of- dry 
bread, and put it on his swill cart for the milk ranch. 

" Look ! " said she, " at those loaves of dry bread being 
dumped into that cart. How the hungry would like to 
have them ! Just see the stuff that is wasted from one 
house, and it is just so all over the city ! Why could not 
some one go around and gather it up, nice and clean-, and 
spread it in some place, and let the hungry go and eat what 
they wanted." 

I said it would be a good plan, but some would keep 
others away, while they carried all off themselves. If it 
could be gathered and nicely sorted, and served up prop- 
erly on plates, it would do a vast deal of good. For in- 
stance, have a soup-house, like they have in Chicago. 

" That is just what Mr. Beck said yesterday," replied 
Mrs. Beck. " The city ought to start a soup-house for the 
poor." 

She sat thinking very seriously for a moment, then turn- 
ing to me, said : " Weil, why can't you and I do it, if no 
one else will ? " 

All right, said I. Where will we have it ? 
" Well," said Mrs. Beck, " there is my carpenter-shop on 
B Street, and the man is just using it temporarily. I will 
tell him I want it; I only get $15 a month for it, and I can 
afford to lose that much for two or three months. I do not 
think we will need to run it any longer than that, for times 
will get better. It is all settled about the house. Now, if 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 271 

3'ou have any work to do, I will help you, and then we will 
go out and see what we can do." 

I told her the work was all done, and I was ready to go 
with her at any moment. I put on my things, and we 
started out. 

" Let us first get us a book, and then go around to the 
restaurants and take down the names of all who will give 
us their cold victuals," said Mrs. Beck. "After that we will 
go to the merchants and get them to give us their wilted 
vegetables." 

We did this, and nearly every restaurant promised to 
save us its provisions in baskets, wdiich we were to leave 
for the purpose . 

The merchants also agreed to save us their vegetables, 
and some searched over their stores and gave us all their 
broken packages of pepper, tea, soda, spices, and other 
groceries. 

" Now," said Mrs. Beck, " let us go to Mr. Beck and tell 
him we want him to send a good large stove, seven or eight 
tables, and all the odd chairs he can spare ; and while 
we're there we will look out the dishes and have them 
sent down." 

You talk as if you were sure of the whole thing; per- 
haps your husband will not let us have them. 

" Oh, yes he will ! Beck is the best man in town about 
any such thing. He always gives me all the cracked dishes 
I want to give to any poor person. You know niched 
plates are just as good to bake on, and saves the better 
ones." 

After we had selected the dishes, and ordered them sent 
with the other goods, we now procured a book and started 
out for subscriptions. We took down the names of all 
parties who were willing to donate towards the lunch- 
house. We received subscriptions all the way from " two 
bits " to $4, and two or three subscriptions of $5 each. 



2/2 Tcti Years in Nevada. 

Among the restaurants that donated with a liberal hand 
were Fitz Myer, Flowshoots, New York Bakery, Mrs, 
McDonald, Johnny Young, Charlie Leggett, W. B. Ryan, 
John Miller, of the American Exchange, and a host of 
other restaurants, the names of which, if I ever knew, 1 
have forgotten. 

" Now," said she, " we must have some one to help gather 
up the food, and a dish-washer." 

I said there was an old man stopping at my house who 
had no boarding-place. What can we afford to give him ? 

" I do not think we can afford over $20 and board him," 
said Mrs. Beck ; and there is a girl stopping at my house 
who wants a place, and I will hire her. I think I can get 
her for $30, and she can board and room at my house." 

Well, if you will furnish lodging for the girl, I will for 
the man, and he can board at the lunch-house. 

That night we saw both parties, and secured their serv- 
ices, and paid them from the money we had collected. This 
took $60 of our money. After we had run the house a few . 
days, we discovered it was worth more to do the work 
than we at first anticipated, and we concluded to add $5 
more to the girl's salary. 

The most of our subscriptions were of 50 cents each, 
consequently did not count up very fast. The miners and 
many mechanics could not afford to give more than this, as 
they had from two to three applications a day for char- 
itable purposes. 

Business men averaged from $1 to $2. 

The bonanza ring never gave us a dime ; they said they 
had given to the relief society all they could afford. Other 
men had given to that society all they thought they could 
afford, yet they had a few spare dollars for us. 

In taking up a collection, we found some very noble 
women. If they did not have money to give, they would 
give us old clothes ; and many a man, woman, and child 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 273 

got a good warm suit, if it was soiled, through their be- 
nevolence. 

Mr. C. C. Baker & Co., also E. G. Baker and Hatch Bros., 
gave us very liberally, and all the merchants with whom 
we traded let us have goods at reduced rates. We bought 
a firkin of butter and a half-barrel of sugar to commence 
on. But the most liberal of all who assisted us were the 
butchers of Virginia City. Each and all extended a liberal 
hand. They furnished us with more meat than we could 
possibly use in the lunch-house ; but we never allowed it 
to go to waste, for we knew plenty of poor people in town 
who needed it, and were always glad to get it. We did 
not forget the Sisters' Orphan Asylum in our distributions. 

The markets on the Divide always brought their meat to 
us, as they said it was too far for us to send. They some- 
times brought us three and four large champagne baskets 
full, for which we were very thankful. 

I will now show the public how we managed to feed four 
and five hundred people three times a day from our lunch- 
house. 

Our man took a basket and pail, and went to each hour.e 
separately. All the cold meat was placed in the bot- 
tom of the basket, on a clean paper. The basket was 
then filled out with dry bread, unless there was meat 
enough to fill it, in which case he returned the second time 
for the bread, cake, and pie. The tin pail was for coffee 
dregs, which we gathered from the different restaurants. 
These we mixed with a little fresh coffee boiled up, and 
strained off into a large boiler. We generally did this in 
the evening, and had it ready for use the next day. We 
always had this nice and hot, with plenty of sugar and 
milk. 

Alexander & Brother were very liberal in their donations 
of milk, leaving us from one to two gallons daily. 

A Sierra Nevada milkman was also very liberal. 

iS 



2/4 Ten Years in Nevada. 

We always sorted our provision as fast as it was brought 
in to us. Every slice, and half slice, that would do to set 
on the table was laid by itself. The smaller pieces were 
saved for hash and soup. We frequently had two and three 
bushels all broken for soup. Before filling a plate with soup, 
we would put a handful of bread in each one. 

The meat was next sorted. Everything that could be 
cut in slices was saved for cold meat for the tables. When 
our meat was done, we lifted it from the boiler, and all the 
bits of cold meat that we had trimmed from the other were 
added to the soup. This made it very rich. 

We now filled the boiler with different kinds of vege- 
tables. When this was done, we added rice or barley, and 
we had an excellent soup. We always seasoned it highly 
with pepper and salt. We changed the soups everj- day, 
having vegetable or bean soup every other day. We always 
gave them plenty of vegetables, both cooked and raw. 

Our pie and cake were also sorted and cut into small 
pieces, that every person might have a piece. 

We got quite a quantity ot pies and cakes from Mr. 
Miller; also baked beans and pork. 

Fitz Myer also sent us large pans of beans and pork and 
puddings, which we dished out for dessert the same as we 
did our pies. 

Our breakfast hours were from six to nine, dinner hours 
from twelve to three, and supper hours from five to seven 
o'clock, and sometimes later. We always had everything 
prepared for breakfast the night before ; and when break- 
fast was about half over, we commenced making prepara- 
tions for dinner ; and through the dinner hours, we were 
making preparations for supper. 

If we had any soup left, we never threw it out, neither 
did we keep it to sour. We could always find plenty of 
Chinese and Piutes to give it to. There were from fifteen 
to twenty of them daily hanging about the door at meal times. 



1 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 275 

We had from ten to fifteen visitors daily to try our soups 
and coffee. All who tasted it pronounced it the best they 
had eaten in the city. Among our visitors were doctors, 
lawyers, ministers, and newspaper reporters — the latter 
always recommending our soups and coffee by giving us 
a neat little puff in their paper. 

We had seven large tables, each covered with white 
spreads or marble oil-cloths, and always looked neat and 
-clean. The people were always waited upon as if they 
were in a paying boarding-house. We had men, women, 
and children. 

Women sometimes came bringing their whole families 
with them. 

For breakfast we had coffee, bread and butter, cold meats, 
3iot potatoes, and hash. They generally consumed three 
iDushels of hash dail}- ; but, reader, it was not " boarding- 
house " hash, but a superior article of our own manufact- 
ure. It was composed of all the fine meat and vegetables 
of the soup, finely minced with bread and potatoes, and 
highly seasoned with pepper, salt, and onions, and warmed 
lip from the rich marrow gravy taken from the top of the 
soup. 

For dinner we had soup, vegetables, cold meat, bread, 
baked beans, pork, and coffee. 

For supper we had the same, with the addition of cakes, 
pics, an J puddings. 

There were some sickly people, and some were quite old. 
For such as these we saved any little knick-knacks we 
chanced to get. We also kept tea on hand for such as 
did not drink coffee. 

We did not get all the bread given us we needed, but 
had to buy about $3 worth every day. We generally bought 
all the bread each baker had left over from the day before. 
By taking this we got it for less than half price, and it went 
much further than new bread. 



276 Ten Years vi Nevada. 

We took some four gallons of grease each day from the 
top of the soup. This we gave to poor famihes, and they 
clarified it for shortening. We kept three boilers con- 
stantly going with soup and coffee, and a large reservoir 
of hot water to add to them whenever the case required it. 

Our floor was scrubbed every day after dinner, the board- 
ers taking turns to do this, as well as to fill our water bar- 
rels, and cut and bring in our wood, for our hired man had 
enough to do without doing this. 

We had to be there by half-past five o'clock in the morn- 
ing. I lived a half-mile away, but Mrs. Beck lived on A 
Street, directly back of the lunch-house, which was on B 
Street. 

Several restaurants were closed out while we were run- 
ning the lunch-house, and we received some very "liberal 
donations. From some of these we received a half-barrel 
of corned beef, a half-keg each of farina and hominy, and 
four gallons of molasses ; this we used on the hominy and. 
farina, which we made into pastry puddings. 

Our tables were well supplied with pepper, salt, mustard^ 
vinegar, and Worcester sauce. 

To cook all these victuals, and wait on five hundred peo- 
ple most of the time, and only three to do it, was no small 
chore. Besides, we had our own house-work to do ; but I 
hq,d a girl stopping at my house who assisted me some,. 
while Mrs. Beck's daughter helped her. 

While the men were eating their dinners and suppers,. 
Ave were constantly filling pails and baskets with soups and 
other provisions. 

While the girl was busy doing up the dinner-work and 
preparing for supper, Mrs. Beck and myself went out col- 
lecting money. This was the only time we could get to 
collect money ; and we have often walked so far and so fast 
that we have found our feet blistered at night, and some- 
times were so tired we could not sleep at nights. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 277 

The men, as a general thing, were very orderly. After 
they had finished eating, they would quietly pass out and 
give their place to others. 

After clean dishes were placed on the tables, and they 
were replenished with food, each table would immediately 
be filled with new-comers. 

The men generally came sober, as it was one of the rules 
of the house to admit no intoxicated person. We had, how- 
ever, three who would drink. They were nicknamed by 
the crowd " hog number one," '' hog number two," and 
^'hog number three," from the fact of their sitting at the 
table till they had been reset and refilled with men six or 
seven different times. Either of them would eat more than 
any four men in the house. They were all very large men. 

The first two days I gave every man all the coffee he 
wished. After that we would give no more than three cups. 

We had to work very hard, but we enjoyed ourselves for 
this reason — we knew the hungry were fed, and while they 
■were fed, Virginia City was safe. Then there were so 
many different kinds of people, that it became a great study 
for us as well as amusement, lor some of the men were 
very lively, and were constantly making speeches at which 
M'e could not help laughing. 

They were most always telling over old Virginia City 
stories of '49. We learned their opinion of the bonanza 
ring by the wishes and threats they made against it. It 
would make your hair stand on end to hear some of them. 
This showed we were right as far as the safety of the city 
was concerned. We used often reprimand them for it. 

There were three men who were bound they would drink 
and still come there and eat. I did not propose to wait on 
TTien who did not have more respect for us or our house 
than to come in a state of intoxication to their meals. So 
I told these three men that they could have no more meals 
unless they came sober. 



2/8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

One said : " It is not as you say. I guess the city has 
something to say about it. My friend, Jim Fair, gave 
$2,000 to run this machine, and I have got just as good 
a right here as anybody." 

I saw he was quite intoxicated, and did not make him 
any reply till he was done eating. I then told him not ta 
come there again in that condition. 

But at noon he came back worse than ever. I would not 
let him in. But Mrs. Beck said : " Let the poor fellow have 
something." 

No ; I will not allow sober men to eat with a man in his 
condition, and the dreul was running down his chin. 

I took him by the arm and led him out of the door, and 
told him when he came back sober he could have some- 
thing to eat, and not before. 

He walked up and down before the door for about an 
hour, every ten or fifteen minutes poking his head in the 
door, and asking: "Am I sober enough yet? " 

I kept telling him No ; not till all the rest were done eat- 
ing, I then let him in, and he was quite sober. After he 
had eaten his supper, I said to him : This is the last time I 
will give you anything to eat if you come in this condition. 
He never came again intoxicated, and I had no further 
trouble with any of them about drinking. 

As the first month drew to a close, we found we had used 
all of our money, and Mrs. Beck was out of her own pocket 
$86. We went around with our book for a second subscrip- 
tion, but not over ten people would pay the sums set oppo- 
site to their names. 

This we took to pay the man and girl for staying two 
weeks longer. 

We then notified the men that we would have to close 
up for lack of funds. 

You see we were supporting eight or ten families outside 
of what came to the lunch-house, supplying them with all 



Life en the Pacific Coast. 279 

the bread they consumed, and we never had less than three 
baskets of bread to buy extra, as we did not have bread 
enough given us. 

The last three weeks we run the lunch-house we sold 
tickets enough to supply us with bread. These we sold to 
merchants, brokers, and other business men ; and when men 
came asking for money for a square meal, they would give 
them the lunch-tickets, and direct them to us. 

They would come in, sit down and eat, but would always 
keep their tickets out of sight, unless we called for them. 
Somehow they got the impression that we were going to 
charge them after awhile, and would have their tickets to 
fall back on. 

When the few dollars we had collected gave out, we 
closed up, giving every man a large chunk of corned beef, 
or mutton, just as he preferred, which he packed off to his 
cabin. 

We had all of our corned beef on hand — about two-thirds 
of a barrel — which we had been saving lor the men, when 
we broke up. All the other provisions on hand we divided 
among them. 

The last week we kept the lunch-house open, about a hun- 
dred young men left the city to look for work. 

We put up a lunch for each one — enough to last two or 
three days. 

About three hundred of our boarders were old towns- 
people, broke, and out of work. Many of them were crip- 
ples; the rest of them were tramps, women, and chil- 
dren, 

I told Mrs. Beck she could not afford to support the 
whole town, and I could not afford to help her; my time 
was all I could give. 

After the men had taken all they wanted of meat, pepper, 
and salt, we divided what remained among poor families, 
and closed up. We were pretty well tired out. We were 



28o Ten Years in Nevada. 

often so tired, after closing for the evening, that we could 
not go to the theater or other places of amusement. 

While running the house some of the men seemed very 
grateful, and would always thank us or bless us as they 
went out after every meal. One day I heard one man say 
to another, " What makes you thank those women in there ? 
It's no thanks to them that ye git something to eat ; the re- 
lief society hires them." 

"Is that so?" said he. "Thin bejabers they git no 
more thanks from me. I thought they bought it thim- 
selves ! " 

This conversation took place outside, and I stood by the 
half-open door where I heard it. 

When they came in and were seated, some man said : 
" There is not better set tables in the city ; at any rate the 
victuals come on the tables in better shape, and taste 
better." 

"An' shure, they might afford to give us good victuals. 
It don't cost thim anything ! " The relief society hires 
thim ; Mackey and Fair pays for the grub." 

This was said by one of the men who had been talking 
outside. 

An American, who knew better, said : " You are mis- 
taken." 

He said : " No, I am not; Tom Finnegan just told me so ; 
and I'll be d — d if I'll thank anyone again. I have my 
opinion of anyone who has to be paid to feed a few starv- 
ing men." 

Some of the men told him to shut up, or they would put 
him out; and after dinner I heard them explaining it to 
him. The next day he came, and was as humble as ever. 

Some of the men who came there had been worth several 
thousand dollars a few months before, but had lost all by 
the fall of stock, and had not " four bits " now to get them 
a meal. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 281 

One poor fellow who, a few months betore, had driven 
fast teams, had been so long- without eating that he did 
not dare to cat, but only drank a cup of tea, and after awhile 
he came in again, but only ate a piece of cake and drank a 
cup of tea. At supper-time he ate quite heartily. We had 
several cases like this. 

We were very sorry to have to close out, for these poor 
people seemed to feel it very much. If we could have pro- 
cured money to pay our help, we would have tried to run 
it the second month. As it was, we were obliged to quit. 
With the thanks of some and the praise of many, all 
declared the lunch-house had been a great help to the 
city. 

AIDING THE KANSAS SUFFERERS. 

When Kansas and Nebraska were suffering from the 
grasshopper invasion, we were notified of it by the churches 
as well as by the papers. One of the churches gathered 
up three boxes and sent them off, and the word went out 
that they had received all that they needed ; but the papers 
soon brought us another story. 

They told of their destitute condition, and that men were 
obliged to make coats of quilts, and plow in their bare feet. 
The express companies promised to forward any boxes 
which were made up for them free of charge. 

Mrs. Beck and myself started out to gather up all the 
clothes we could. We declared we would not stop as long 
-as the express companies would take them. 

We sent fourteen boxes that we gathered up in the citv, 
both for men, women, and children, of all sizes and ages. 

After we got all we could here, we then went to Gold 
Hill. Here we gathered two large wagon loads. These 
clothes we carried in our arms from the upper sti^eets down 
to Main Street, all we could possibly carry at a time, till 
we gathered them all from the side-hill streets. 



282 Ten Years in Nevada. 

When we had got them all down to Main Street, we hired 
two teams, and sent them to Virginia City. The next twa 
days we spent in packing and sending them off. We found 
we had eleven boxes. After we had sent seven of these, 
which, with the others sent, made twenty-one, the express 
companies refused to send any more. As we had four boxes 
left, we sent two of them to a town where we had heard 
they were in great need of aid. 

The other two boxes we sent to two women, who had 
written informing us of their destitute condition, after we 
had sent one box to their town. Upon these four boxes we 
had to pay the express charges. We always sent two boxes- 
to each town — one filled with men and boys' clothing, and 
one filled with women and children's wear. 

We worked so hard gathering these clothes that our 
arms were numb for days with the big loads we carried 
down the hills in Gold Hill, 

Our acquaintances used to call us the rag-pickers. We 
sometimes were praised, and often blessed for our deeds of 
charity, by the citizens, and sometimes by the papers. But 
this never afforded us half the pleasure our conscience did,, 
or the many letters of thanks we received from the differ- 
ent towns in both Kansas and Nebraska, and Irom the par- 
ties who were appointed to receive them, and from post- 
masters and private individuals ; sometimes from individu- 
als who had received an old coat, or dress, with a five-dollar 
gold piece sewed up in the pocket, accompanied by a re- 
quest to let us know if they received it. 

We thought the best things were generally given to fa- 
vored ones, and the poor were turned off with the worst. 
So in the very worst garments we often placed small sums 
of money to make up for the old garment. We often got 
returns from these, telling us how much good the money 
did them. 

We also bought and begged garden seeds from the seed 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 285 

stores. Merchants often gave us quantities of tea and cof- 
fee. We always marked these to be given to some sick 
person or chronic tea-drinkers. Several sent us saying 
they were suffering for things, and wished we would send 
them a small box. 

After we could get no more things to send, Mrs. Beck 
wrote to them, and sent $5 in each letter, telling them she 
could get no more clothes. I sometimes wonder after all 
we two went through with, w(jrking and begging for the 
poor, that we have had so much bad luck. 

But again, I think it must be for some wise purpose, and 
instead of fretting-, and making evervone miserable around 
me, I call to mind these very true and wise verses, which it 
would be profitable for us all to remember : — 



" IT NEVER PAYS. 

' It never pays to fret and growl 
When fortune seems our foe ; 
The better bred will push ahead, 
And strike a braver blow. 
For luck is work. 
And those who shirk 
Should not lament their doom, 
But yield the play, 
And clear the way, 
That better men have room. 



' It never pays to foster pride, 
And squander wealth in show ; 
For friends thus won are sure to run 
In times of want or woe. 
The noblest worth 
Of all the earth 
Are gems of heart and brain — 
A conscience clear, 
A household dear, 
And hands without a stain. 



284 Ten Years in Nei>ada. 

"It never pays to hate a foe. 
Or cater to a friend ; 
To fawn and whine, much less repine, 
To borrow or to lend. 

The faults of men 
Are fewer when 
Each rows his own canoe ; 

For feuds and debts, 
And pampered pets, 
Unbounded mischief brew. 

' It never pays to wreck the health 
In drudging after gain ; 
And he is sold who thinks that gold 
Is cheaply bought with pain. 
An humble lot, 
A cozy cot, 
Have tempted even kings ; 
For station high. 
That wealth will buy. 
Not oft contentment brings. 

" It never pays : a blunt refrain, 
Well worthy of a song. 
For age and youth must learn this truth, 
That nothing pays that's wrong. 
The good and pure 
Alone are sure 
To bring prolonged success, 
While what is right. 
In Heaven's sight, 
Is always sure to bless." 



After the big fire ot Virginia City the Kansas sufferers, 
being grateful for the aid we rendered them, sent $400 to 
the Virginia City Rehef Societ}^ saying they had this 
much left in their treasury, and they did not know what 
better use they could put it to than to send it to those who 
had extended such a liberal hand to them in their hour of 
great need. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 285 

Mrs. Beck and myself being aware of the fact, and know- 
ing we were the only ones that sent boxes of clothing to 
their relief, save the three small boxes sent by the Episco- 
pal Church, applied to them for two or three friends who 
had been entirely burned out, saving scarcely an article 
except what they had on at the time. These same parties 
had been very liberal in giving us when we were filling 
our boxes. 

Now, reader, would you believe it! we could hard I v get 
an old coat for a poor man who happened to be in his shirt- 
sleeves at the time the fire broke out, and who, in trying to 
save his neighbor's goods, had lost all of his own, even to 
his last coat. 

Mrs. Beck went six times before she succeeded in get- 
ting a coat, which was not as good as several which he had 
given us. 

I would advise the public if they are ever called upon 
to send relief to Virginia City to send it to Mrs. Beck ; and 
I will warrant them that a few favored ones will not get 
more than their share, but will be equally and judiciously 
distributed among all. I don't doubt the relief society does 
a great deal of good, but, like the law-makers, it spends too 
much time legislating over each article that it gives, for 
every one has to give his opinion whether the party is 
worthy or not. 

When I first went to Virginia City the Howard Relief 
Society had entirely run down, and there being a large 
number of people in town who needed assistance, Mrs. 
Beck and myself spoke to the Rev. McGrath about it. 

He said he would try and start a society immediately, 
and in less than two weeks after he had quite a society 
formed. 

After awhile some of the members of the old society 
joined, and in some way they managed to give the society 
the old name, and everything is now conducted on the old 



286 Ten Years in Nevada. 

plan. But I do not think the poor people have received 
the same amount of benefit they did the first winter, as 
McGrath spent about two-thirds of his time in looking 
after the poor, and often took money from his own pocket 
to supply their wants. 

Speaking of the poor of Virginia City reminds me of the 
doctors there, some ot whom would take your last cent in 
an exorbitant fee, while others would not only give their 
fee, but also gold from their pocket for extras or delicacies 
for their patients, which the relief society did not feel able 
to give. 

Dr. White was one of these doctors, and he would always 
give his patients what he thought was necessary, if he had 
to pay for it from his own pocket. I took care of a good 
many of his patients, and I ought to know. 

Drs. Webber, Atchinson, and Packer were also very kind- 
hearted men, and may Virginia City be blessed with more 
like them. 

We will now leave serious subjects, and introduce to the 
reader the Piutes of Virginia City, as my book will hardly 
be complete without them. 

They are a race of Indians who live in and around Store}', 
Washoe, and Lyons Counties. They seem very harmless, 
as they never molest any of the whites, and are quite civil- 
ized, many of them living in shanty houses, and having 
their cook-stoves, and one or two I have known to have 
spring mattresses. They put their blankets and furs on 
them, making quite nice little beds. 

They gather up large piles of sage-brush for wood. They 
all dress like the whites. 

An Indian's hobby is a plug hat, with a feather, while a 
squaw's is a pink calico dress, with two or three flounces. 
Some of them have learned to sew, and can make dresses 
very good. These dressmakers make a good deal of money 
in making dresses for other squaws. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 287 

Some are good washers, and will do up starched clothes 
very nicely. This they have learned from the whites, for 
whom they have worked. The squaws are quite industri- 
ous. They are always ready and willing to wash or do any 
kind of work for you ; but they want their price. 

The male Indians hardly ever work. They go around 
and engage large piles of wood to cut and saw. They set 
the price on the labor, and then go off till the squaws have 
cut the wood, while they are gambling or strutting about 
town. But they are always sure to return at meal-times, as 
this is always included in the bargain. Their whole family 
have what they want to eat, and they will never commence 
their work till you give them their breakfast. 

If you tell them to go to work before breakfast, they will 
say : " Me want biscuit ; me heap ' hoggeydie,' " which 
means I am very hungry. 

The Indians and squaws are both great gamblers. They 
will form large circles on the ground, where they will sit 
and play for hours. 

They play poker, euchre, and whistle-jack. The most of 
them talk good English, and some of them swear like pirates- 
Many of the ladies hire them to wash and clean house, 
and will give them quite nice dresses which they have cast 
aside ; but they always give them some money, or they are 
not satisfied. 

It is realfy comical to see a Piute squaw trailing her silk 
dress ; and it is only when she is high-toned enough to wear 
such garments that her husband will condescend to walk 
behind her. 

At other times they will go ahead and leave their squaws 
to bring up the rear with their load. 

Some of the girls and boys are quite good-looking. Their 
cheeks are always painted red. 

The girls wear their hair banged like the American girls 
of the present day, only much longer, coming just to the 






288 Ten Years in Nevada. 

end of their nose, and hangs in a vail over their face the 
most of the time. The rest of their hair is long, and hangs 
down upon their back. The old women and men part theirs 
in the center, and let it hang on either side of the face, and 
ornament it with shells, pieces of tin, brass, feathers, or 
beads; the latter of which they are very fond. 

These Indians resemble the Chinamen very much, for 
they have the same black hair and eyes, yet their eyes are 
not all as almond-shaped as the Chinese. They never shave 
any part of the head or face, while the Chinamen shave all 
the lower part of the head in a complete circle, leaving 
only a small tuft of hair on the crown of their heads. This 
they braid in a long strand down their back. Their social 
position seems to depend upon the length of this braid. It 
is often lengthened out by long strands of black silk ; and 
not unfrequently they are seen dragging a full yard upon 
the sfround, after beinsf wound once or twice around the head. 

The Indian wears his cut just to the shoulders. The In- 
dians converse very readily with the Chinese when they 
first land Irom the ships. It is believed by many that the 
Indians are Chinamen, who in ancient times had crossed 
over the isthmus into Russian America. The fact of their 
talking with them is pretty good proof. Many of their 
words are the same. One word that both parties often use 
is, " No savvy," which means I do not understand, or " I 
savvy," I understand. 

The Spanish, Mexicans, and negroes also use this word 
for the same meaning. 

When the Indians work for you, they will do their work 
well. After they have cut a large pile of wood they will 
carry it into your shed with as many of the chips as you 
like ; they will then sweep up the rest, and carry it away 
to their shanties in bags to burn, leaving the ground so 
clean that you would never imagine a wood-pile had been 
there. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 289) 

One day, as I was going along the streets, I saw a squaw 
carrying a parlor cook-stove on her back. It was tied 
around her waist by a rope, and to her head by a strap 
passing around the forehead. This strap always supports 
the principal part of the load. She also carried a baby in 
her arms. Her husband, a great stalwart Indian, was walk- 
ing beside her, carrying their little one-year-old papoose, 
till he got tired ; he then put it upon the top of the stove, 
and told it to hang on. He then folded his blanket about 
his shoulders, and strutted ahead of her, as if he was a king 
and she his slave. 

A man passing at the time tried to shame him. He re- 
plied : " Me gentleman. Me no work. Squaw work." 

Captain Bob, their chief, was a great person among them. 
He took great pride in a plug hat, white shirt, and linen 
coat. 

The squaws go to the mills, where the hot water is 
pumped from the mines, to get water to wash with. It 
is very nice and soft. Some of the white people also get 
this water to wash with. 

They dry their clothes on the sage-brush which grows 
about their camp. 

Many of them own horses. One squaw told me she 
owned thirty horses and ponies. They have some pretty 
good ones. 

The Indians go up to a place called Walkie River, in the 
fall, to hunt and fish, and also to gather the pine-nuts (which 
resemble our acorns),which grow in great abundance there. 
They are very nice, and are kept in the groceries to sell, as 
we do chestnuts. They buy them of the Piutes, in the fall, 
after they come back from their hunt. 

Immediately after their return, they commence their fan- 
dango, which they keep up every night for several weeks. 
It is a sort of dance. They generally select a large, level 
piece ot ground, and inclose it by a fence of sage-brush. 

10 



290 Ten Years in Nevada. 

On the outside of this fence they do all of their cooking. 
Through the center of this ring is a wide, well-beaten track. 
On this track the dancing is done. The girls dress in their 
best, some in white, some in silk ; but the most of them in 
red, pink, or blue. The signal for the dance to commence 
is for the best singer to start on the track and commence 
singing and dancing. He will sometimes sing for half an 
hour before another Indian will start. But after the second 
one starts, the others will follow suit, both men and women. 

There is no sense to their singing. It is a sort of sing- 
song, hum-drum noise, with an occasional howl. 

They seem to enjoy it very much. They are very proud 
whenever the white people visit and take notice of them, 
especially at their fandangoes. 

I think the whites enjoy it quite as much as they do. 
Large parties often go out to see them and join in the 
dance. 

I went one night with Mrs. Beck and three other friends ; 
but I must say I enjoyed the foot-race back more than I did 
the fandango. 

They always have a feast at these times, and you can see 
them packing provisions all day long out to their grounds 
for their evening entertainment. These Indians seem to be 
quite a temperate tribe. They are also very virtuous. If 
anyone of the squaws leaves her husband and goes off with 
another man, he follows her. 

If he gets her, she is bound to a stake and burned, her 
husband sitting before her on the ground, with a few of the 
braves, watching her burn. 

A case of this kind occurred while I was there, about five 
miles out of the city. 

As soon as the white people heard of it, a reporter went 
out to see what he could learn. 

There he found a few charred bones chained to a stake, 
the embers still smoking about the stake. 



» 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 291 

Had the whites known it in time, they would have pre- 
vented this horrible act. 

When they do anything like this, it is always done 
secretly. 

Although their discipHne leads them into such cruel and 
barbarous acts, they are otherwise a very quiet, well-be- 
haved tribe. I never heard of any disturbance between 
them and any white person during the whole time I was 
there. 

The only difficulty I ever heard ot their having was be- 
tween them and the Chinese, on account ot the latter eat- 
ing the provisions off their graves. 

I will wind up this chapter by the writing of letters ; as 
I have said, this was one of my vocations while teaching 
the colored woman. I used to write all of her business 
letters. For this she paid me extra — 50 cents to $1, just as 
she happened to have it by her. 

I often wrote business letters for others. But the letters 
of friendship and love were both paying and amusing, for 
I was allowed to write what I chose to, and then I piled on 
the love in great agony ; but somehow I always suited the 
people better than when they worded them themselves. 1 
never set any price on this kind of work, but was always 
paid very liberally, having received as high as $3 for some 
of them ; if I said it was too much, the party would say : 
■" It is worth every dime I gave you, for it will touch the 
heart, if anything will. It is just splendid." 

Then I had the fun of reading the answers that were re- 
ceived, and some of which were very amusing. I give 
here an extract from one of them : 

Dear Jennie. — You will have to hunt another chap, for 
I have married Martha Brown. She is not as good-looking 
as yourself, but she has heaps of money, and we have gone 
to housekeeping in good shape. So good-bye. 

Billy. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The Comstock and the Mines. 

tHAVE often been asked since I returned East if the 
Comstock was not the best mine, and who owned it. 

I will now explain to my readers that the Comstock is 
the name of a ledge of gold and silver quartz, extending 
from the north end of Virginia City to the south end, and 
passes on, through Gold Hill and Silver City, to the east. 
The ledge seems to split at the south end of Gold Hill, and 
branches off to Silver City and American Flat. 

This ledge was named after the man who first discovered 
gold and silver in Virginia City. 

Just before I came away I made inquiries about the man 
Comstock, and was told the following story. I will give it 
to my readers as it was related to me ; and if it is not 
strictly true, I am not to blame. I have no doubt but it is 
true : 

Comstock was a miner of early days. He was poor 
when he discovered the ledge. He was rather a reckless 
man, but would have done well had he stuck to his ledge^ 
and drank less. But he was foolish enough to sell his mine^ 
which he had located on the ledge, to a man for his hand- 
some wife, a horse, and a silk handkerchief, and $2,000 in 
gold coin. 

He hitched up his horse and started for Carson City 
with the woman he had bought. At Carson City she 
jumped out of a window and ran off. He got her back. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 293 

but she left him again. He became disheartened, and 
gambled off his money, and is to-day a poor man, if living. 
This Avas told me by an old Comstocker, Mr. Brown, 
who roomed at my house. 

So the Comstock is simply the lode, lead, vein, or body 
■of ore running the entire length of the mountains on the 
side of which Virginia City is situated. 

The thousand and one mines of Virginia City, Gold Hill, 
American Flat, and Silver City, comprise the Comstock. 
There are two mines, called the north and south Comstock, 
but they are both what are termed "wild-cat." A "wild- 
cat " mine is one that is situated on the outskirts of the 
ledge, and is supposed to be of no real value, but goes up 
on the merits of good mines. 

To give you the names in this work of all the mines 
would be impossible, for they would fill a volume by them- 
selves. 

I will merely mention some of the oldest and best. 
Belcher, Imperial, Yellow Jacket, Empire, and Crown 
Point. These are the best of the Gold Hill stocks. Cali. 
fornia, Lady Washington, New York, Overman, and Jus- 
tice are Silver City stocks. 

American Flat, Woodville, Baltimore, and Knickerbocker 
are American Flat stocks. 

Chollar, Potosi, Ophir, Union Consolidated, Julia, Gould, 
Curry, Mexican, Best & Belcher, Sierra Nevada, and Ex- 
chequer are Virginia City stocks. 

The Raymond, Ely, and Eureka are California stocks. 
These are only a few of the choice mines. 

There are hundreds of others, many of which are very 
valuable. It is really enough to tire one's patience to go 
through the entire list of the stock-board. 

Many of the mines are worked together of late years. A 
large number have been consolidated. It seems as if they 
were always in a quarrel if tliey did not consolidate. 



294 Ten Years in Nevada. 

The mines I have mentioned have all had their day of 
excitement, and which have caused the death of many 
people. 

All have been bonanzas at some time, but most of their 
upper levels have been worked out. It has been impossible 
to work the lower levels on account of the immense quanti- 
ties of hot water with which the mines have been filled for 
the past few years. 

I have often been asked how the mines were worked. I 
will tell you exactly as 1 have been told by dozens of good 
miners, and from responsible people who have visited the 
mines. 

I cannot speak from personal knowledge, because I have 
never been below the surface of the mines, although I have 
visited nearly every mine and mill of any account on the 
Comstock. I have examined the magnificent machinery, 
engines, and pumps, but confess I never had the nerve to 
visit the lower levels, for I knew I never could stand the 
heat. 

To start a mine, a man surveys and stakes out his ground,. 
and with pick and shovel digs a shaft, the same as a well is 
dug, only it is square instead of round ; it is then walled 
up with planks and heavy timbers. 

When the miners throw out the dirt as long as they can 
over their heads, they then put up a windlass, and hoist the 
dirt in large buckets. These are generally worked by horse- 
power. 

The shafts are generally dug till they strike a body of 
ore, and then timbered up. They then run a tunnel in as 
far as their location goes, after which they either sink a 
new shaft or commence a new tunnel on the opposite side, 
or as far as their claims go in that direction. 

They continue to sink shafts, and run tunnels and cross- 
cuts, thousands of feet below the surface. 

This they call prospecting the mines, or finding how wide 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 295 

and deep the ledges are, and also their length. But before 
they do any work, more than to dig for a ledge, they take 
out a United States patent, and name the mine. 

After this they put up hoisting works, which are run by 
steam. 

A man, unless he is rich, and can work his mine by hir- 
ing help, always takes in two or three partners. They then 
set to work and run tunnels and crosscuts, as I have before 
stated. As soon as they find the length, breadth, and thick- 
ness of the ledge, they commence hoisting out the ore, till 
they have large cavities, which are called chambers ; these 
they timber up for ore rooms. When the first level is 
nearly worked out, they commence hoisting the ore from 
the second level to the chambers of the first. In this man- 
ner all the levels are worked. 

Sometimes these ore chambers are filled with the best 
grade of ore, and sealed up. This is kept in reserve for 
such a time as they wish to create an excitement. 

When very rich veins are struck, they are also sealed up, 
and capitalists go to work and break the stock, in order 
that small stockholders may become excited and throw 
their stock into the market, when the capitalists immedi- 
ately buy it up. 

They then go to work, take out the rich ore, and raise 
the stock to an enormous figure — perhaps make a bonanza 
of the mine. 

People again become excited, and buy in at these large 
figures, and when the capitalists get unloaded, they report 
a " horse " in the mine. A " horse " is a body of clay. The 
people again become frightened, throw the high-priced 
stock into the market without a limit. This causes a 
crash, and stocks go to nothing, or at least to very low 
figures. The mining ring immediately load up again ; 
and the next news is there was no " horse " at all. They 
will pretend that some person raised the report to injure 



296 Ten Years in Nevada. 

the mine. But for some time people are very shy of buy- 
ing in this mine. 

Large masses of ore are left in different places to sup- 
port the ground above. Timbers of all sizes are used in 
the mines. The chambers, from floor to floor, are from fifty 
to sixty feet deep. Every level has its shaft, inchne, and 
tunnel. The ore is raised to the upper levels by means of 
steam engines placed in large tanks; the water is also 
raised in these tanks in the same way. These tanks are 
fastened to large wire ropes, called cable-cord, which is 
made of fine wire, woven or braided together. It is 
very strong and durable. It is then wound and unwound 
from large iron beams, by aid of the steam engines, with 
which every mine is supplied. Some of these engines are 
of enormous size. The deeper the mine the more lieavy 
the machinery ought to be. 

Old mines often sell off their machiner}^ and buy heavier. 
A great many different kinds of machinery are used. There 
are also several styles of pumps ; some are used above the 
ground, and some down in the mines. One is called the 
donkey-pump ; it is worked by donkeys under ground. I 
do not know how they get these animals down in the mines, 
but think they take them down on the cage, as they do the 
miners. They have regular storehouses down in the mines. 
They work by candle light altogether. A miner's candle- 
stick is a sharp iron, about a foot long, very sharp at one 
end, with a round, flat ring at the other, large enough to 
hold a candle. The sharp end is then thrust into the rocks 
or timbers, or in the sides of the mines. 

In many of the mines the miners cannot strike the pick 
more than three blows before they have to go to the cool- 
ing station and stay double the time they are at work. 

The cooUng stations are where they have a free circula- 
tion of air. These stations are on every level. They have 
large tanks or reservoirs to hold the water that is pumped 



I 



Life en the Pacific Coast. 297 

from one level to another. These vats are olten full of boil- 
ing water. In many of the mines the water is so hot that 
if a person slips into one of these tanks, he is generally 
scalded to death before he can be rescued. 

If he is rescued alive, it is only to linger a few days, 
suffering the most intense agony, till death relieves him of 
his sufferings. He is often so completely cooked in 
the scalding vats that the flesh drops from the bones while 
taking him out. His suffering and agony is terrible to 
witness. 

The heat of the mines is very great. In some mines it is 
almost unendurable. In such mines it is almost impossible 
to work, while in others they can work without such ex- 
cessive heat. 

Miners are brought to the surface almost daily from over- 
heat. 

There is scarcely a day in the year that there is not from 
one to two funerals among the miners ; and I have known 
of there being five in one day. 

There are a great many different causes of death. Some- 
times death is caused by the caving in of rock, or by falling 
into the scalding tanks, or, by a misstep, by falling hundreds 
of feet down the shafts or inclines. 

Sometimes the rope which holds the cage gives way, and 
several men are killed by the fall. In such a case there is 
not much hopes of any lives being spared, for they are gen- 
erally dead before they reach the bottom. 

Often machinery breaks and causes their death. Some- 
times the hoisting of the car too fast carries it up into the 
sheaves ; such an accident as this generally causes the death 
of all on the cage. 

When men are overheated in the mines, some will return 
to work on the next shift, and others are laid up for several 
days. 

I have had several roomers affected in this way, and were 



298 Ten Years in Nevada. 

under the doctor's care, one being out of his head for days. 
I do not think I can give my readers a better description 
of the miners and everything connected with them, than 
making a few extracts from the Evenmg- Chronicle, which is 
a very reliable paper, as it always keeps good reporters, 
who are always well posted on all mining matters: 

"Virginia City, July 14. 

" On the 1,756 level we have commenced to lay a line of 
13-inch pipe, which will be continued through the Consoli- 
dated Virginia, Best & Belcher, Gould & Curry, and up the 
Gould & Curry, joint winze, to the Savage 1,600 level, then 
south to the Sutro Tunnel connection. This pipe will also 
be laid north through the Ophir and Union, and will event- 
ually be continued to the Sierra Nevada and Union 5.hafts. 
This pipe will be used to convey the water from this and 
the aforesaid mines to the Sutro Tunnel, until the main 
Sutro drift is completed. 

"On the 1,850 level the joint consolidated drift has been 
discontinued, and we have commenced drifting north and 
south in the vein formation. Owing to indications of water 
in the C. C. & C. shaft, we have been drilling the past week. 
This hole will be put down 150 feet, and if water does not 
come in, sinking will be resumed. Work on the 900 bob 
station is coinpleted, and we are now engaged in exca- 
vating a tank station above the 1,650 level. This tank will 
be used in connection with the system of pipes now being 
laid to connect with the Sutro Tunnel. The water above 
being caught up, and that below being pumped up to tank, 
from which it will pass through the pipe into the tunnel 
before mentioned. W. H. Patton, 

" Superintendent.'* 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 299 

" ' OLD HAYSEED ' IN THE MINES. 



" 'Bout Fourteen Miles Under Ground. How is this, Farmer Treadway ? " 

" Farmer Treadway, of Carson City, was in Virginia City 
a short time ago on a visit, and he brought with him an old 
farming friend who had never seen the mines, but who 
wanted to see them. Permission was obtained, and the old 
chap went below. The bo)^s lugged him into every drift, 
winze, and crosscut in the mine, and was pretty well worn 
out when he got out. Dan De Quille met him soon after, 
and got the whole story of his trip, as follows: 

" ' Yes,' said the old man, ' I went in, and went clear to 
the bottom. When I went down thar to the Consolidated 
Virginia works, I made up my mind I'd see it all — that I'd 
go as far into the bowels of the yearth as it was possible to 
git 'thout diggin' any new holes. I'd never bin in a mine 
afore, and might never go agin, so I told 'em I'd just take 
in the whole show. When that thing at the top of the shaft, 
what they call the " cage," give its fust little jog down, I 
jist thought the bottom had dropped out't the whole country 
for miles around. 

" ' Steam and hot air was pouring up like we was hangin' 
over a big pot of boilin' water. The guid to the lower 
country grinned at me, and said : " Hold fast ! " 

" ' I was holdin' fast, but I held faster. Down, down, 
down we went, seein' nothin' but flashes of light, and flashes 
of dark, and hearin' nothin' but the buzzes of noise and the 
buzzes of silence, as we passed by the winders cut in the 
sides of the upright hole we were fallin' through. 

" ' I ain't easy skeered, but I thought we might be goin' 
down some faster than the business we were on required, 
so, sez I : Hez the trace chains broke, the belly-bands 
busted, or the breechin' giv way ? 

" ' It's all hunkey,' sez the man, an' we then went on about 
a mile further before thar was any conversation of interest. 



300 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" ' It begun to seem to me like we was gittiii' past all 
the good stoppin'-places. Even if that air rope we was a 
spinnin' out behind us, as a spider spins his line out at his 
tail, was all " hunkey," as the feller called it, I was afeered 
there was no end to it, and we might go right on through 
to Chiney. 

" ' I begun to try if I could think of any prayer among 
them of my airly days that would kiver the case, when the 
thing we was a-ridin' on stopped with a bump, that snapped 
my teeth together, and made me feel up in search of the 
top of my head. 

" ' We'd struck bottom at last. How many miles down 
it was I don't know, but I guess about fourteen — mind, I'm 
only givin' you my impression, gentlemen, I tuck no meas- 
urement down thar below. 

" 'At first a great blaze of light blinded my eyes, and I 
felt like an owl out of his hole in the middle of the day. 

" ' Come along, sez my guide, and we went into a big 
country tavern-looking place that they said was the sta- 
tion. It looked a good deal like the inside of some of them 
stations they us't'r hev up in the Sierrys on the Henness 
Pass road. Thar was boxes o' taller candles settin' about, 
rope, boxes o' sope, barrels o' whisky, gin, merlasses, vine- 
gar, and other sich stuff, I reckon, but I seed no regular 
bar.' 

" ' There was lots o' fellers thar that seemed to belong 
close about, but nobody said, " Take a drink ! " 

" ' We soon left them onsociable cusses, and went out 
into the open country. All lighted up it was, for mor'n a 
mile round with candles, lanterns, an' bonfires. It was as 
fine a lumination as I ever seed anywhar. Jist as I was ad- 
mirin' of it, I heered several cannons go off, one after an- 
other, somewhere up the valley, and I sez to a crowd of 
men we met : " Who's elected ? " 

" 'What? ' sez he. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 30 1 

** ' Is the percessiou movin' this way,' sez I. 
" ' Percession ? ' sez he, looking puzzled. 
" ' Is it under way yit? ' sez I. 
" * What under way ? ' sez he. 

" ' Then I drapped on it that he was one of the defeated 
party, and was takin' no stock in the jollification ; so we 
went on up the valley. 

" ' Men was at work in the fields all about, and trains o' 
cars was runnin' in all directions. The country seemed to 
be very thickly settled. 

" ' It was summer down thare, and the weather was dev- 
ilish hot. The doors all stood open, and the folks had 
nearly all ther clothes off — the men, I mean ; the women 
and children I didn't see — all kept inside, I guess. 

" ' We went on up country 'bout four miles, keepin' the 
main road most of the time. We stopped at several sta- 
tions. Everybody was a-drinking ice-water — blamedst 
people for ice-water I ever seed. Plenty barrels and 
kegs around, too, but nobody ever offered to treat, but 
all swallowed ice-water for dear life. 

" ' While I was watchin' these proceedins' I heerd more 
cannons go off. Sez I to one of the fellers that had some 
clothes on half way between his head and feet : Temper- 
ance celebration, sir ? 

" ' All cold-water men down here,' sez the feller, grinnin'. 

" ' I see ; at first I thought it was on account of your 'lec- 
tion,' sez I. 

" ' I see he was a man inclined to be friendly;and I asked 
him how his ore crop was this season. 

" ' He grinned, and sed : "Above the average." 

" ' Where is it raised ; anywhere in* the neighborhood ? ' 
sez I. 

" ' No ; it's all raised out that way,' and he pointed down 
the valley. 

" * Next we got on another of them kind of railroads that 



302 Ten Years in Nevada. 

stands on end, and went to a settlement about three miles 
below. The weather was hotter than it had been up in the 
valley. I sez to the guide : I think we'll have a shower. 

" ' Not now,' sez he ; ' we'll give you a shower when we 
go above. AUers git a shower when you go out.' 

" ' What he meant I don't know, for I saw no rain that day, 
though at times there was a good deal of thunder over- 
head. 

" * The last place we went to was the Geysers. All was 
bilin' hot in that section. Thar was nothin' thar but hot 
rocks and bilin' water, and steam and yearthquakes ; so we 
didn't stay long. We seed only half a dozen or so of naked, 
half-starved settlers thar that was camped on a small island 
by a big bilin' spring, which they was trying to pump dry. 

" Thar may be finer sections of country down thar^than I 
seed, for as I got thar in the night I didn't go far out in the 
settlements ; but for hot weather it beats x\ryzona all holler, 
I wouldn't live thar if they give me a thousand acres of the 
best silver-bearin' land they've got. That is, I want noth- 
ing to do with silver farmin', and wouldn't stop in sich a 
place to dig the crap if it was alredy raised ripe, and ready 
lor the hoe." 

This is a pretty correct description of the inside of the 
mines, although he describes it as a farming country. 



"TAPPING HOT WATER. 



"A Singular Occurrence in Julia Mine — Narrow Escape of a Miner. 

"At the Julia mine, last Wednesday, a powerful stream of 
hot water was struck in the crosscut on the 2,000 level. A 
Burleigh drill was set to drill a hole in the face of the cross- 
cut at a point about two feet from the bottom. When the 
drill had advanced about two feet in the rock, a tremendous 



I 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 303 

burst of hot water from the hole occurred. The steam 
was equal to twenty-four miners' inches, and was scalding 
hot. It spouted to the distance of several feet diagonally 
across the drift, spreading as it flew, till all the open space 
was filled with the scalding spray and steam. The steam 
also filled the end of the crosscut where the man who had 
been running the drill stood. He was held a close prisoner, 
as he could not pass out through the jets of boiling water; 
and even in his prison he was in danger of being suffocated 
and cooked by the steam and heat. He would probably 
not have escaped alive but for the drill. He opened the 
exhaust-valve and allowed the whole head of compressed 
air to rush out in a full and steady stream, and this not only 
furnished him pure air to breath, but also cooled and pro- 
tected his head, and the whole upper part of his body. His 
fellow-workmen were soon aware of his perilous position 
for the roar and rush of the water could be heard a great 
distance ; but they could no more pass into where he was 
than he could pass out. 

" Finally, the men went out and procured some heavy 
gum boots, reaching to the hips, and large and heavy gum 
coats. Guarded by these, one of the men dashed in through 
the steam and scalding spray, carrying to the prisoner a 
like outfit. Shielded by their heavy gum clothing, the pair 
rushed forth and waded out along the drift. The miner 
had his legs pretty badly scalded. The water is still pour- 
ing in, and at last accounts was slowly gaining on the 
pumps." 



304 Tc7i Years in Nevada. 

"A SUBTERRANEAN OVEN. 



•'the savage mine nearly as hot as hades. 



"A Well-baked Chronicle Reporter Relates How He Was Cooked in the 
Depths, and Describes Some Interesting Things on the Lower Levels. 



" Yesterday afternoon E. R. Cleveland, of Bodie, and a 
Or^'/zzV/^ reporter accompanied Superintendent Gillette into 
the Savage mine, for the purpose of examining the great 
heat reported to be issuing from the levels lately drained 
of hot water. While the party were waiting their turn to 
descend, a miner came up with nothing on but a pair of 
overalls, shoes, and hat, his skin looking as though it had 
been parboiled. The superintendent inquired : 

" ' How are things getting on below ? ' 

" ' Oh, very well, sir, he vry thing is hall right, but hit is 
very 'ot there now,' answered the man. 

"THE FIRST STATION. 

" In a few minutes the party were rapidly descending the 
shaft, which was so full of hot steam as to produce at first a 
feeling of suffocation. The shaft has a strong upcast, and has 
always been hot, but is hotter now than ever before. The 
steam comes up in a blinding volume, which increases in tem- 
perature until the landing place, 1,300 feet from the surface^ 
is reached. Here there is still much visible steam, although 
the atmosphere feels dryer and hotter than any yet encoun- 
tered. A sense of horrible confinement, from which there 
seems no escape, and in which there must be a constant 
struggle to keep from falling exhausted, seizes the visitor, 
and is not dispelled until he enters the cooling-room, where 
the mouth of an air-pipe, coming from the surface, strikes 
him as a grateful blast from the north pole. Without re- 
treats of this kind the miners could not work at all. They 
are obliged to remain longer in the cooling stations than at 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 305 

the picks and shovels, so debilitating is any exertion in such 
a temperature." 

This gives the reader an insight of the intense heat of 
the mines, and what the poor miners have to endure in 
them, 

" THE HEAT IN THE INCLINE. 

"After attaining a comfortable condition in the cooling- 
room, the party entered the incline giraffe to go to the 
2,100 level, the part of the mine last drained. The heat in 
the incline appeared half as great again as that encountered 
at the station. It felt dry, and was consequently very hard 
to bear. The iron sides of the giraffe were so hot that they 
could scarcely be touched without burning the flesh. The 
heat seemed to come fairly out of the rock on all sides, 
while a perceptible hot draft proceeded from the bottom of 
the incline. Each had a large piece of ice in his hand to 
use on his pulse, arms, neck, or to hold in proximity to his 
moutli whenever the hot air appeared to burn the lungs 
when inhaled. Thus provided, the giraffe was rung down. 
It descended rapidly until within about fifteen feet of the 
2,100 level. The heat increased with every foot until the 
station was reached. Here it was so intense that all felt 
themselves wobbling when they rose to get out of the 
giraffe. An air-pipe close to the landing-place furnished 
temporary relief, while a bucket of ice-water near by was 
sought with greater eagerness than ever a prominent citi- 
zen did the nearest bar-room after a night's spree, 

"The way from the giraffe down to the 2,100 level was 
by a ladder placed between the moving Cornish pump on 
one side and a donkey -pump on the other — a position from 
which, if one fell, he must either be killed outright or hor- 
ribly mangled. The ice which the party started with had 
by this time all melted away in their hands." 

The suffering of this intense heat is every-day life to the 
miner. 



3o6 Ten Years in Nevada. 

"TERRIBLY INTENSE HEAT. 

*' When the level was reached, a stratum of heat was 
entered, such as might come from hell itself. The sensa- 
tion was no longer that of general oppression, but of the 
danger of being absolutely burned, instead of the feeling 
extending through th^ whole body ; it was confined to the 
skin and the lungs, which seemed to be fairly scorching. 
When the level was entered, the breath was for an instant 
taken away. 

"A nearly naked miner, who saw the party going in, cried 
out : ' Don't stay there a minute. It's too dangerous ! ' 

" His warning was unnecessary, for no sooner had all 
entered than one began to make his way out. The others 
at once followed, and lost no time in getting to the air-pipe 
and the ice-water, a few feet above in the incline. 

" ' You think this is hot,' said a miner who had come 
there for breath, ' but you ought to have been here before 
the blow-pipe was put in.' 

" THE WRECK OF THE FLOOD. 

"The 2,ioo level has been so hot since it was drained 
last Monday that no one has been able to enter it further 
than to step into the mouth, as the party on this occasion 
did. Yet it is cooling off slowly. It is nothing like so hot 
as it was on Tuesday. The party remained long enough to 
see the wreck made by the flood when the water was al- 
lowed to rise last April, after the Sutro Tunnel compromise. 
A car, a small engine, a few picks, shovels, and drills were 
observed a tew feet from the mouth, but no one approached 
to take a better view. The remaining puddles of water 
are scalding hot, and are as carefully avoided as though 
they were pitfalls. The water in the incline is fifteen feet 
below this level, and is going down slowly. 

"OTHER HOT PLACES. 

"The party ascended from the 2,100 level, which, al- 



I 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 307 

though hot, is comfortable when compared with the tem- 
perature a hundred feet below. One point on this level, in 
a lateral drift running towards the Gould & Curry, is as 
hot as any other part of the mine. A winze extends from 
this drift down a hundred feet, which is full ot hot water. 
In order to shut off the heat coming from this winze, a bulk- 
head was some time ago put in a short distance from the 
winze. The vicinity of this bulkhead is now as hot as the 
2,100 level — so hot that no one can remain there more than 
a minute, and yet poor miners are begrudged their $4 a 
day. 

"A PHENOMENON IN VENTILATION. 

" The drift connecting with the Hale & Norcross on this 
level displays an interesting phenomenon about midway 
between the two mines. .The drift connects with the light- 
ning drift, running to the Combination shaft, at the Hale & 
Norcross incline. There is a strong current of cool air 
coming from the Combination shaft which meets the hot 
air of the Savage at the point mentioned. The result is to 
convert the hot air into visible steam, which fills the drift 
for about fifty feet. The point of contact of the two cur- 
rents is as clearly marked as it would be in the case of 
opposite colors joined together. The temperature is equally 
distinct. In a distance of twenty feet one passes out of an 
oppressively hot atmosphere to a comfortably cool one, or 
vice versa. 

"COOLING OFF. 

" The exact temperature of the heated portions of the 
mines described has not been ascertained since the late in- 
crease of temperature, but the water is said to be about 150 
degrees Fahrenheit. The effect upon the visitor is to so 
thoroughly heat him that when he reaches the surface, 
where before he descended he was sweating in the heat of 
the day, he feels as though he had suddenly been trans- 



3o8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

ported to the regions of frrst and snow. Cold shower after 
shower is scarcely suiificient to cool the body. It takes at 
least half an hour and the application of floods of cold 
water to reduce the temperature to a normal condition^ 
after which, however, one feels more vigorous than before." 
Fire very often occurs in the mines from various causes. 
Sometimes it is by the miners' carelessness with their can- 
dles. Sometimes from their underground blacksmith shops,. 
or an explosion of giant caps, nitro-glycerine, or giant pow- 
der, and sometimes incendiaries ; but the latter case seldom, 
happens, as the mines are well watched. 

I do not know that they have proven a case, but it has* 
been thought some of the fires occurred in this way. 
When a fire occurs, many people are suffocated by the 
gas. 

If any portion of a mine is not worked for several days, 
or kept thoroughly ventilated, gas accumulates, and then 
takes fire. When this occurs, it is generally so sudden that 
miners have no chance to escape. 

As soon as it is ascertained that there is a fire in or about 
the mines, the bells are rung, and all the whistles blown at 
the different mines, which warn all the miners below, and 
they are all hoisted as quickly as possible to the surface^ 
and are not allowed to return till the fire is out, and all is 
safe. 

A miner always takes his life in his hands when he takes 
his dinner-bucket and starts for the mines, for he does not 
know whether he will ever return alive. Sometimes he 
hardly enters the mine before some fatal accident occurs 
which ends his existence. There is not an hour that they 
are not in danger of some kind. 

They are all aware of this, but do not seem to mind it» 
Some are even forewarned of their fate ; but, instead of 
heeding it, they will take their pails and walk straight into 
the jaws of death. Some will even tell their friends that 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 309 

they do not expect to return alive, and yet, after all, they 
•endure it in both body and mind. 

Capitalists are trying to cut down their wages from $4 to 
$3, and are even trying to fill their places with the miser- 
able Chinamen, in order to compel them to comply with 
their terms ; but this the Miners' Union will never hear to. 

They never have, and I do not think they ever will allow 
a Chinaman in or around the mines ; neither will they allow 
him to cut down the wages. 

They are a very large, resolute, and determined body ol 
honest, hard-working men. 

There is a large amount ot rich ore taken out ot each of 
the mines daily. 

I will here again quote a few items from the Chronicle: 
-" California. Virginia City, May 31. 

"C. p. Gordon, Secretary. 

" There have been extracted during the past week 1,098 
tons of ore." 

'' California. Virginia City, July 14. 

"C. p. Gordon, Secretary. 
" There have been 1,467 tons of ore sent to the mills the 
past week. On the 850 level of the Joint Consolidated 
Virginia, west drift has been extended 39 feet ; total length, 
229 feet. The material is softer, q^nd shows some water." 

The following is from the Chronicle : 

"Twenty-live car-loads of ore are daily shipped over the 
Virginia City & Truckee Railroad to the mills on the 
Carson." 

Another item shows you how nobly the miners work to 
rescue their suffering companions, or restore their dead 
bodies to their friends. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



The Mines Continued. 



"RECOVERING THE DEAD. 



' The Victims of the Imperial Fire — How the Bodies of Crocker, Donohue, 

and Perry Were Found — Horrible Sights in the Bullion Incline — 

Herculean Labors of the Miners — Scene at the Shaft's 

Mouth. 



'ESTERDAY morning the bodies of the three men 
suffocated in the Bullion mine, on Tuesday night, 
were found by Superintendent Schultz and his party. It 
was four days from the time the fire alarm sounded to the 
time when the bodies of the dead were reached. During 
this period Superintendent Schultz has been indefatigable 
in his work of subduing the fire and looking for the dead. 

"THE LAST BULKHEAD. 

" Four bulkheads had been put in, as previously described 
in the Chronicle, and on Thursday Mr. Schultz, with a gang 
of men, went down the Imperial shaft to reach the Bullion 
incline, and put in the last bulkhead. 

"A Chronicle reporter accompanied the party. The route 
from the Imperial to the Bullion incline fay along the 1,84a 
drift of the Bullion, a distance of 2,700 feet. The drift for 
a long time had only been used for ventilation, and was ia 
a bad state of repair. 

" When the men started, they knew full well what their 
errand was, and calculated the chances of their never com- 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 5 ^ ^ 

ing back alive. They took with them several pails of water, 
and about one hundred p unds of ice. In addition to this, 
each man was provided with a small bottle of ammonia and 
a sponge. 

" The sponges are used to tie over the mouth when the 
wearer is in proximity to foul gases, and are saturated with 
ice-water. 

" If a miner feels faint from inhaling the gases, the am- 
monia revives him. A sudden cave was looked upon as 
liable to spread the gas. 

" In putting in the bulkhead in the Bullion mine, Mr. 
Schultz proposed to shut off the gases coming from the 
winze, and then the current of air from the 1,840 level, en- 
tering the incline above the bulkhead, would free it of bad 
air, and enable him to explore the incline above that point. 
The journey through the 1,840 drift was something fearful. 
The mud and water was knee-deep in many places, and the 
bottom of the drift was strewn with loose rock, old pipes, 
broken timbers, and dismantled bulkheads. Above, the 
weight of the rocks had forced the timbers out of place, 
and their jagged edges came nearly half way to the floor. 
The sides were crushed in in a similar manner, and as the 
men advanced, they stumbled over the obstructions, flound- 
ered through the mud, and crawled on their hands and 
knees. 

"THE INXLINE REACHED. 

" The incline was finally reached. At the station was an 
air compressor run by steam. By leaning over the plat- 
form the smell of gas was plainly discoverable, and a faint 
trace of smoke swept up by the draft. The men placed 
sponges over their faces and lowered themselves down. 
Instantly their candles were extinguished by the foul air ; 
again and again the lanterns were lowered, and went out 
instantly. The next thing done was to order the men back 
on the platform and disconnect the air pipes. Two pipes 



312 Ten Years in Nevada. 

passed that point, and after considerable labor they were 
disconnected, and this gave a fresh supply of air. While 
this was being done the men worked with the sponges over 
their mouths, and these were kept saturated with ice-water. 
S me placed pieces of ice the size of their fists in the hol- 
lows of the sponges, and sucked them. Part ot the time 
thsy were in the incline, and the sponges becoming im- 
pregnated with the gases, had to be wrung out every five 
minutes. The men drank two gallons of ice-water in half 
an hour. 

"THE GAS INCREASING. 

"After about an hour's work the gas in the incline seemed 
to be increasing, and the heat was frightful. Orders were 
finally given to leave the place and go back to the Imperial 
coolins: station. The men availed themselves of the order 
at once, and returning to the Imperial, remained there an 
hour, and after recuperating, returned again to the station 
with timber and canvas for the bulkhead. This bulkhead 
was constructed only with great labor, and was finished at 
one o'clock yesterday morning. Two compartments had 
to be bulkheaded. Timbers were laid closely together, just 
below the floor of the station. These were covered with 
canvas, and clay thrown over the canvas. The heat was so 
intense that the clay had to be wet with a hose. After 
everything was secured tight about the bulkhead, the gas 
still escaped, and a spray hose was put down through the 
bulkhead. The shower of water from this kept back the 
gas, and in half an hour the atmosphere was comparatively 
pure. This took until nearl}^ three o'clock in the morning, 
and when the incline was considered safe, two men were 
sent up to the i,6oo station. 

" perry's body found. 

"A gang of six men were next sent down the Bullion 
shaft at seven o'clock in the morning. On reaching the 



Life on the Paeijic Coast. 313 

first station of the incline, on the 800 level, they found the 
body of Perry. It was lying on the last sill, and within 
seven feet of a cooling station. He was evidently trying to 
reach this station when he was overtaken by the gas. His 
lantern was found about one hundred feet below in the in- 
cline. The body was much swollen and discolored. It 
was sewed up in a canvas sack and taken to the cooling 
station. 

"THE LAST BODY FOUND. 

" Search was next made for the body of Crocker. It 
was found thirty-five feet below the 1,200 level. The dead 
man's back was supported by a center-post, and his legs 
were resting on one of the sills. He appeared as if he had 
been struck, and fallen as found. Like the others, the body 
was swollen and discolored. The face was so much so that 
it had a ludicrous expression. The body was placed in a 
canvas sack, and soon afterwards an improvised car was 
sent down from the head of the incline, and the bodies of 
Donohue and Crocker taken up and laid by the side that of 
Perry. 

"THE BODIES BROUGHT UP. 

"At one o'clock yesterday afternoon Perry's body was 
brought up the Bullion shalt. Quite a crowd of his friends 
and associates were gathered in the hoisting works at the 
time. The cable crawled over the sheave at a snail's pace, 
as is usual on such sad occasions. The crowd gathered 
closer about the shaft as the cage came in sight. When it 
landed, the father-in-law of Perry stepped forward and 
asked for the remains of his relative. The body was turned 
over to him and taken away. About midnight the other 
two bodies were brought up. The crowd at the shaft was 
not so large — only the near friends of the deceased being 
present. When the cage stopped, the sight was not want- 
ing in ghastliness, as the glare of the engineer's light fell 
full upon the canvas sacks. They were taken off the cage 



314 Ten Years in Nevada. 

and laid side by side. Soon after the secretary of the 
Miners' Union claimed the body of Crocker, and the cor- 
oner took charge of the remains of Donohue. 

" HOW THE MINERS WORKED. 

" During the past four days the men about the Bullion 
have worked ceaselessly in the recovering of their com- 
rades' bodies. 

" Henry Blight, J. J. Brooks, and A. N. Baker worked 
twenty-four hours each on a stretch in getting out the 
bodies. Foreman Manyfreed did double duty nearly all 
of the time. The inquest on the bodies of the deceased 
will be held to-night. Donohue was a single man. The 
other two men were married, and had families in Gold 
Hill." 



" A FALL OF THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE FEET. 



" William Eddy Killed in the Combination Shaft on Sunday Morning. 



"About one o'clock on Sunday morning, William Eddy, 
employed at the Combination shaft, was killed by falling 
from the lightning drift to the bottom of the shaft, a dis- 
tance of 325 feet. His duty was to watch a water tank, 
which was about fifty feet from the shaft. He was missed 
about a quarter past one o'clock, and a few minutes after- 
wards he was found at the bottom of the shaft in about 
three feet of water. He was immediately taken on top and 
a physician sent for, who pronounced his injuries fatal. He 
was not badly hurt externally, but his internal injuries 
placed him beyond all hope of recovery. He did not 
speak after being brought to the surface, but was most of 
the time apparently conscious. 

" HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. 

" No one saw Eddy fall, but it is generally supposed that 



Life en the Pacific Coast, 31 J 

he fell asleep and walked into the shaft. For some weeks 
past he had been complaining of drowsiness, and would 
sometimes fall asleep while watching the tank. A miner 
who has no active hard work to do is apt to feel sleepy 
where the atmosphere is hot and impure. It is therefore 
believed that while in a somnambulistic state he walked into 
the shaft. In falling he must have reached the bottom with- 
out hitting the sides. He had a rubber overcoat on, and 
this is supposed to have acted like a parachute to check 
the fall, while the three feet of water in the shaft also 
helped. 

" Eddy was about twenty. three years of age, a native of 
Cornwall, unmarried, and had a father employed at the 
shaft. The inquest will take place to-night." 

The reader will see by these clippings the different ways 
and means by which miners meet with shocking deaths. 
Often when they fall down these shafts and inclines noth- 
ing remains to be carried to the surface but a mass of broken 
bones and pieces of flesh; not even the limbs are whole. 
Often they cannot be recognized by their friends, and often 
no one is allowed to see the remains but the coroner and 
undertaker. Those who meet with death in the mines, and 
have no family, are always taken directly to the under- 
takers when such a case occurs. You will often see two 
undertakers going after the same body ; the one who gets 
there first gets the job. 



"A FALL OF ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FEET. 



"a miner dashed to pieces in the savage shaft. 



"Fearful Death of Nicholas Dickmon — The Result of a Blunder Some- 
where — Particulars of the Horrible Affair — Statements of the Engi- 
neers and Miners. 



"This morning there was another fatal accident at the 
Savage mine. Just as the six o'clock whistles were blow- 



3i6 Ten Years in Nevada. 

ing Nicholas Dickmon was, by a blunder, precipitated to 
the bottom of the shaft from a point about fifty feet from 
the surface, falling fully 1,300 feet, and meeting instantane- 
ous death. When his body was recovered by the men 
working below, it was mangled beyond the possibility of 
recognition. The left arm and right leg were severed from 
the trunk, the abdomen was shockingly lacerated, and the 
head was utterly annihilated. The body was gathered up, 
piece by piece, and placed in a sack, in which it was carried 
to the surface. 

" HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURliED. 
" T. K. Johnson, the working companion of Dickmon, 
and who was himself injured by a singular explosion of 
gas from the pump column a few days ago, related the par- 
ticulars of the melanchol}' occurrence as follows : ' He and 
the deceased, with two other men, were taking out a col- 
umn of wooden boxes in the compartment of the shaft ad- 
joining the pump compartment. These boxes were used to 
force air into the mine for ventilation, but are no longer of 
service. The men had done a good shift's work, and were 
just taking out the last box before quitting. They all felt 
in good spirits at the result of the night's labor, ever3^thing 
having gone on very smoothly. The boxes were hoisted 
to the surface by a small capstan engine. The adjoining 
compartment of the shaft to the south, which is provided 
with a cage, was used for hoisting the men as the work pro- 
gressed upward. They had already got within about fifty 
feet of the surface.' 

"THE FATAL BLUNDER. 
" Johnson had been ringing the bells all night. But one 
bell-rope was used — that in the cage compartment. The 
signal to hoist the cage was three consecutive laps; that to 
hoist the boxes one tap, an intermission, and then three 
more in succession. They had loosened a section of the 
boxes fifteen feet long, and fastened it to the cable to hoist. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 317 

One man was in the box compartment standing on the wall- 
plates to guide the box when it started upward. The other 
three, namely, Johnson, the deceased, and a man named 
John Champion, were on the stage. The deceased and 
Champion were leaning with their backs against the wall- 
plates and their feet upon the stage. Johnson rang to hoist 
the box, and called out to the man in the box compa rtment^ 
as is usual in the mine, saying : ' One and three bells gone ! ' 
Instantly, and to the unspeakable horror of those upon it^ 
the cage was hoisted, throwing the feet of the two men 
leaning against the wall-plates upward, and letting them 
slip backward between the cage and the timbers. Cham- 
pion caught one of the braces of the cage and saved him- 
self, but Dickmon fell to the bottom of the shaft, as stated. 
Johnson, who was standing upright on the cage, instinct- 
ively grasped the bell-rope as the cage started, and rang to 
stop. The engineer obeyed quickl}^ and the cage moved 
only about four feet. Had it proceeded further, the fate 
of Champion must have been the same as that of Dickmon. 

"WHAT THE ENGINEER SAYS. 

"Two engineers were on duty when the accident hap- 
pened—one having charge of the cage-engine, and the 
other the engine to hoist the boxes. John Stout, the en- 
gineer who hoisted the cage when the signal was intended 
for the other compartment, declares that he heard three 
consecutive bells distinctly, and no more. The man at the 
other engine also says that he heard only three. These 
statements stand against that of the man on the cage who 
pulled the bell-rope. 

" The chief engineer of the works explains by saying that 
sometimes there occurs a hitch in the communication, by 
which, when four bells are intended, only three are heard. 
He noted this a few days ago when he was on duty himself at 
one of the engines. The balance-box would catch, and the 
first pull upon the rope would only free it, instead of sounding 



3i8 Ten Years in Nevada. 

the first bell. This he regards as the only explanation to 
be offered of the fact that the rope was pulled four times 
and the bell sounded only three. 

" WHO THE DECEASED WAS. 

** The deceased was a German, aged about thirty-one 
years, and had no relatives in this city, nor in this countr}-, 
so far as at present known. He was a member of the Odd 
Fellows' Society, and the Miners' Union. His body was 
taken to the rooms of an undertaker on South C Street. 
An inquest will be held at six o'clock this evening. John- 
son says that when the deceased found that he was falling 
into the shaft, he uttered not a word, but looked at him in 
such a way that he will never forget it. The flag over the 
Savage works floats at half-mast to-day in mourning ior the 
terrible accident." 



The Mechanics' Union is a society which sprang into ex- 
istence a few months before I left Virginia City. 

1 will copy a few of their doings from the CJironicle, to 
show the public how fast they have grown in power and 
strength : 

"FIVE DOLLARS A DAY. 



"The Mechanics' Union Out in Strong Force. 



"They Demand Five Dollars a Day for All Skilled Laborers. 



"Colonel Gillette Interviewed at the Savage Mine. 
"The Bonanza Mines Next Visited by the Mechanics. 
" Nine Four-Dollar Men Forced to Quit Work To-Day. 



" At eleven o'clock this morning a procession, composed 
ol about 250 men, led by William E. Chandler, and with the 
American flag in the van, filed out of Miners' Union Hall, 



Life on the Pacific Coast, 319 

on B Street, and along B to Taylor, and thence to C Street, 
along which it proceeded south. The men walked two by 
two, and not a word was spoken by which the object of 
the out-run could be made known. On reaching Flowery 
Street the procession turned down it to D, and proceeded 
to the side track in front of the Savage works, where it 
halted. 

" Messrs. A. F. INIackay, J. D. Loyanchan, and S. Wilkins 
then left the ranks, and walked into the time-keeper's office, 
at the Savage shaft, where they were received by Superin- 
tendent Gillette, and invited to be seated. A reporter of 
the Chronicle was also present. 

" Mr. Mackay and Colonel Gillette then had the follow- 
ing conversation : 

" THE OBJECT OF THE CALL DISCLOSED. 

" Mr. Mackay — * According to previous HOtice, we have 
called upon you in behalf of the Mechanics' Union of 
Storey County, to respectfully ask you to comply with 
our demand.' 

" Superintendent Gillette — ' What is your demand ? ' 

" Mr. M. — ' We stated it plainly when last we called upon 
you.' 

" Supt. G. — ' And I answered it plainly, too, but you mis- 
construed it.' 

" Mr. M. — ' I beg your pardon, sir ; we did not. You 
said you would comply with our scale of prices, and you 
failed to do so. You pay what 3'ou call skilled carpenters 
$5 per day, but those who square timbers only get $4. 
They must get $5. All carpenters who go down in the 
mines must get $5.' 

" Supt. G. — ' I'll tell you what Fll do, and this must be 
final — ril discharge all my wedge-makers, and keep one 
man underground at $5. All others will get $4.' 

" Mr. M. — In that case, we will ask you to sign this agree- 



320 Ten Years in Nevada. 

ment.' (Handing him an agreement of which the following 
is a copy.) 

" ' 1, , superintendent of the Savage mine, here- 
by agree to pay all engineers who are running surface 
hoisting engines not less than five ($5) dollars per day, said 
day to be not more than eight (8) hours in twent3'-four (24.) 
hours. I also agree to pay all engineers and mechanics 
otherwise engaged than as above specified, including tim- 
ber-framers and tool-sharpeners, not less than the same rates 
established for the past five years in Storey County. 

" '(Signed,) 

" ' Virginia City, June 14, 1878.' " 

" Supt. G. {excitedly') — ' You've got my final answer now. 

I'll not sign that. I'm d d if I shan't suffer death before 

I'll do it! I can't do any more without consulting with the 
president of the company.' 

" Mr. M. — ' In that case, sir, we demand that you imme- 
diately put your carpenters at work for $5 per day. This 
does not include wedge-makers, as they need not be skilled 
laborers, but we do include roller-makers.' 

" The boss carpenter was now called in. He said that he 
received $6 a day, and that he received instructions a day 
or two ago to pay $5 after the 15th. 

" The committee insisted that this order should be en- 
forced instantly, and a member asked : 

" ' Have you any $4 a day men in the mine ? ' . 

" ' No ; they are all on top.' 

" Mr. M. — ' It is understood that you will not allow any- 
more to go to work for $4 ' 

" Supt. G. — ' No, sir. Every man about these premises 
will get the wages you demand, viz., underground, $ 5 ; on 
top, $4.' ' The last probably refers to what are known as 
unskilled laborers. The committee and superintendent evi- 
dently understood each other, though the reporter did not.) 

" The committee then returned to the body of the pro- 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 321 

cession, and made their report, which was substantially that 
the superintendent of the Savage had agreed to comply 
with their demands, but that he had referred the agreement 
to the president of the company to sign. The report was 
received with a cheer. 

"AT THE BONANZA MINES. 

" The Union then re-formed its ranks, and proceeded 
along D Street to the Consolidated Virginia works. By 
this time there had been large accessions to the ranks, so 
that fully 500 men were in line, and as the head of the pro- 
cession halted close to the hoisting compartment of the 
works, the end was still on D Street. The men were all 
cleanly dressed, and every way respectable in appearance, 
peaceably disposed evidently, but determined. The same 
committee left the ranks and entered the superintendent's 
office. Assistant Superintendent Patton received them, and 
provided them with chairs, when Mr. Wilkins made their 
business known. He then continued : 

" ' We received your letter, and presented it to the Union. 
Not being satisfied with its contents, the Union determined 
to present their demands in person. Here is a contract 
which we desire you to sign.' 

"Mr. Patton (after reading the contract) — 'Why don't 
)-ou state your demands plainly } For instance, your prices 
for carpenter work. The prices which have been paid for 
I he last five years is very indefinite. Pve paid and am pay- 
ing all the way from $6 to $4.50. Just write down your de- 
mand, please, and PU consider it.' (The contract was sub- 
stantially the same as that presented to Superintendent Gil- 
lette, but, agreeably to Mr. Patton's suggestion, it was 
amended so as to read, that ' the wages of all carpenters, 
blacksmiths, engineers, and machinists shall not be less 
than $5 per day.') 

" Mr. Patton reiterated that he was paying carpenters $5 
and $6, and added : 



322 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" ' That's all I can say on this subject, gentlemen. Mr. 
Fair, as you are aware, is very sick, and I don't want to 
trouble him about this business ; and I cannot do more 
without communicating with the trustees. In fact, I have 
done so already, expecting you would not move in this 
matter before the ist of July, the date publicly announced 
by yourselves. I intended at that date to be ready to give 
you a final answer.' 

" Mr. Mackay — ' We did not intend to act before, but 
things have shaped themselves so that we had to act at 
once.' 

" Mr. Patton — ' I can do no more at present, and if you 
will not wait for the ist of July, when the trustees have 
considered the matter, you can do what you choose.' 

" Mr. Wilkins — ' We do not feel bound by that noti^ce.' 

" Mr. Patton — ' If the trustees ratify the communication 
sent you yesterday, we will act upon it at once.' 

" Mr. Wilkins — ' How soon will they act ? ' 

" Mr. Patton — ' I don't know, but our action will depend 
entirely upon theirs. My impression is they will agree with 
my suggestion.' 

"A PEREMPTORY DEMAND REFUSED. 

" The committee now retired to the adjoining room, and 
returned presently, and Mr. Wilkins said : 

" ' Mr. Patton, under the circumstances we have to ask 
the names of those that are working for less than $5 per 
day. If you choose to discharge them and hire others, or 
to reinstate them at $5 per day, you can of course do so. 
But they shall not work for $4 a day any longer.' 

" Mr. Patton — 'This is taking snap judgment, and going 
back on your notice.' 

" Mr. Wilkins — ' We are not bound by our advertised 
notice.' 

" Mr. Patton — ' Very well; do as you see fit.' 

" Mr. Wilkins—' Is that final ? ' 



Life oil the Pacific Coast. 323 

" Mr. Patton — ' That's my answer.' 

"Mr. Wilkins — 'In that case we have nothing to do but 
report. Good-day, sir ! ' 

" Mr. Patton — ' Good-day, gentlemen ! ' 

" IX THE carpenters' SHOP. 

" The committee then walked out of the office and into 
the carpenters' shop, where they were met by Augustus 
Riegles, the foreman, of whom they asked : 

" ' How many men have you got working for $4? ' 

" * I dont know ; you must see the time-keeper,' was the 
reply. 

" * Very well, we shall see for ourselves.' 

" The committee then walked to the carpenters at work, 
and, addressing each individual, asked : 

" ' What wages are you getting ? ' 

" ' Four dollars.' 

" ' Pick up your tools and fall in with us ! ' 

" ' All right.' 

" Four men were found who admitted th^y only received 
$4 a day. When they had joined the ranks, Gus Riegels 
was informed that it was the desire of the Union that he 
should not replace these men with $4 men. He replied that 
he had nothing to do with hiring hands. 

"AT THE C. & C. SHAFT. 

" The ranks were then re-formed, and the Union marched 
through the works to Sutton Avenue, when it turned to- 
wards the C. & C. shaft, reaching the works about ten min- 
utes past twelve o'clock. All the day men had gone to 
dinner. It was therefore agreed to remain until one o'clock, 
and in the meantime a committee was dispatched to the 
California pan mill, where it had been reported the black- 
smiths only got $4 per day's work. The committee soon 
returned, and reported that the Union's rate of wages w^as 
paid. When the whistle blew at one o'clock, the carpenters 



324 Te7i Years in Nevada. 

were interviewed in the same manner as those at the Con- 
solidated Virginia works had been, and five $4 men were 
ordered to 'fall in,' which they did. The procession then 
marched back to Miners' Union Hall, where it was dis- 
banded. 

" The regular meeting of the Union will be held to-mor- 
row evening, when the situation will be fully considered. 

" THE mechanics' STATEMENT OF THEIR CASE. 

" While the Union was waiting for one o'clock at the C. 
& C. shaft, the Chronicle reporter obtained from B. F. 
Hazeltine and others their explanation of the movement,, 
which was as follows : 

" Last March the wages of mechanics at some of the 
mines were reduced, and a number ot skilled laborers were 
discharged to make way for unskilled laborers at lower 
wages. This appeared like a preconcerted attempt to re- 
duce wages all along the lode. It was therefore deter- 
mined to organize a Mechanics' Union, and on the 25th of 
March a preliminary meeting was held, at which it was 
agreed that all mechanics should join the Union. The 
Union was fully organized in April with about 130 mem- 
bers, and its membership increased to above 500. This, it 
is argued, proves the necessity for the Union and its popu- 
larity with the working-men. On the 29th of April a com- 
mittee was appointed to call on the superintendents, and 
request them to adopt their scale ot wages. As a rule,, 
they agreed to do so. Among those who did so was Col- 
onel Gillette, superintendent of the Savage ; but when his 
men were paid oif on the first of this month, they were 
only paid at the old rates. This was made known to the 
Union, who thereupon held a special meeting, at which the 
situation was thoroughly discussed. Some were alarmed, 
and all agreed that if they waited until July ist it would 
be too late for action that month, as far as wages were con- 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 325 

cerned, and by August there might be no need of a Union. 
It was therefore agreed to take ' time by the forelock,' and 
act at once. But first, letters were sent to several of the 
superintendents. The reply of Mr. Patton not being satis- 
factory, the action taken to-day was determined upon, with 
the result above stated. The Savage was the first mine 
visited, because they claimed that Superintendent Gillette 
had not adhered to his agreement. 

" THE CORRESPONDENCE. 

" Following is the letter referred to in the interview be- 
tween Mr. Patton and the committee of the Mechanics' 
Union. The Union's note is also published, in order that 
the readers of the CJironicle mav read Mr. Patton's letter 
understandingly. 

"THE union's note. 

"*' 'Mr. James G. Fair, Superintendent Consolidated Virginia 

and other mines : 

" ' Dear Sir. — As it is possible that you do not clearly un- 
derstand the demands of the Mechanics' Union of Storey 
County, we herewith most respectfully submit our de- 
mands. 

" 'First — We demand not less than $5 per day for all me- 
chanical work in or about the mines under your super- 
vision, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, and machinists' 
work, and all tool and pick-sharpening and timber-framing 
to be considered mechanical work ; and 

" ' Second — All engmeers running surface-hoisting engines 
to receive not less than $5 per day, said day to be eight 
hours and no more ; and other engineers running mill or 
pumping-engines to not receive a less rate than has been 
paid on the Comstock during the last five years. 

" ' An answer over your signature is earnestly requested 
to-day, on or before four o'clock p. m. 



326 Ten Years in Nevada. 

" ' By request of the Mechanics' Union of Storey County. 
All of which is respectfully submitted by 

" 'S. WiLKINS, 
" ' President of Meeha^iics' Union, Storey County. 
"'Virginia City, June 12, 1878.' 

"THE REPLY. 

Virginia City, June 13. 
"'To THE Mechanics' Union of Storey County: 

"'Gentlemen. — I am in receipt of your favor of 12th in- 
stant, and have noted contents fully. In reply, I would 
say that there are no men at work at any of the mines that 
are in my charge who are not receiving wages in accord- 
ance with your request, except twelve timber-framers, now 
working at the C. & C, and Consolidated Virginia shafts. 
This reduction has been made with these timber-framers, 
together with the reduction of many other expenses, in and 
around the mine, at the demand of stockholders, through 
the home office, who complained bitterly of the heavy ex- 
penses attached to the mine. 

" ' I preferred to make the reduction of wages in this 
class of work rather than to do the work of framing tim- 
bers by machinery, which I shall be obliged to do in case 
you continue your demands. This would greatly reduce 
the number of men employed. Any change from the pres- 
ent course would necessitate my consulting with the trus- 
tees at the home office, as Mr. Fair's health will compel 
him to resign all official connection with mines in this State 
during this month. His present condition is such that I 
cannot consult with him regarding the minor details in and 
around the mines. 

" ' Very respectfully, 
" ' W. H. Patton, Assistant Superintendent' '* 



Life on the Pacific Coast. .'^z^ 

The reader has now a pretty thorough description of the 
mines, how they are worked, and how they are managed. 
They can also see how the Miners and Mechanics' Unions 
stand up for and maintain their rights. In my next chapter 
I will return to my own and my son's private life. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Our Lives Continued. 

JlN the summer of 'tj Charlie did not seem very well lor 
\ several weeks, and then came down with typhus fever, 
which was prevailing in the city at the time. I think he 
caught it through my nursing a sick friend. 

He was attacked very severely, but I succeeded in break- 
ing his fever at the end of the first week, and as soon '^s he 
was able to sit up, I sent him down to the bay. He went 
in company with some of his friends who were going down. 
Here, too, I learned how many friends my boy had, for the 
crowd that accompanied him to the depot was immense. 

San Francisco agreed with him, for after a few days he 
gained rapidly. At the end of the second week he accepted 
an engagement in the California Theater. He was gone 
three months, when I wrote to him to come home, as I was 
going East. 

He telegraphed back: " You will have to come after me. 
I am sick." 

When I received the dispatch, 1 immediately commenced 
preparations for the journey, and five days later landed in 
San Francisco. As I stepped from the cars to the platform, 
I stopped a moment to consult the dispatch for the number 
ot his lodgings, when some one touched me on the arm. I 
looked around, and there stood Charlie— a walking ghost, 
if there ever was one. 

I took his arm, and we walked along slowly, till we 
reached his boarding-house. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 329 

I was told here he had been very sick. The lady also 
said: " He commenced playing about the second week he 
came to the bay, and has kept it up till within the last three 
weeks when he ought to have been in bed most of the time. 
He grew so much worse that the last night he played he 
was carried from the stage, as soon as the curtain dropped, 
by some of his friends, brought here, and placed in bed. 
He has been under the doctor's care ever since, till he got 
your letter, which acted like magic. He was so rejoiced to 
think he was going East that we could not keep him in bed 
another day." (He was stopping at the house of a Mrs. 
Devine, aunt to his friend and old schoolmate, Edward De- 
vine, who roomed with him at the time. They were all 
very kind, and gave him everv possible care.) 

After they had all told their story, Charlie laughed and 
said : " Well, mother, I made a hit, for the character I took 
was a drunken noblemen, and I was so sick I could hardly 
stand or speak ; my tongue was thick and husky. In fact, 
I acted like a drunken man. Everybody thought I acted 
the drunk to perfection ; so you see it was all for the best." 
He had kept his illness from me all this time, hoping from 
■day to day to recover. He did not wish me to know of 
his illness, for he wished to return again to the stage, and 
he knew I would forbid his playing as soon as I heard of it. 
After one day's rest I settled his bills, bought our tickets, 
and started for Virginia City. His round trip to San Fran- 
cisco and back to Virginia City cost $330. 

I found he was not able to take a long journey, so we 
stopped in Virginia City one month. I now went to doc- 
toring him myself, and by the time 1 was ready to go East, 
he was quite able to travel. 

I had my store and small house rented. The upper part 
of my house I left in charge of a lady friend, Mrs. Epley, 
till my agent could rent it. 1 sold the goods that had cost 
me §1,700, for S400. 



330. Ten Years in Nevada. 

One hundred dollars' worth I sold at private sales, and 
the balance to my old friend, Mr. Jackson. 

At the time I settled with the Atlantic Company, I saved 
out what I needed for present expenses ; the rest I invested 
in California and Consolidated Virginia stock, and left it 
with the rest of my stock in the hands of a broker, with 
instructions to my agent to draw the dividends for 
me. 

We now bid adieu to all our kind friends, and started 
East. It was the 8th of January, but very mild weather, 
there being scarcely any snow till we reached Omaha, ex- 
cept while crossing the Rocky Mountains, where we found 
considerable. 

The plains were dry and dusty in many places. In numer- 
ous parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois we passed- large 
fields of corn, potatoes, and other vegetables which were 
not yet harvested. We had a very pleasant trip, meeting 
with no accidents. 

We had a verj^ nice lunch put up (thanks to our many 
kind friends), which consisted of jellies, honey, pickles, cold 
turkey, baked chickens, corned-beef, dried beef, cheese, 
bread and butter, sponge jelly, fruit cakes, sardines, and 
cove oysters, and quite a variety of other edibles. We also 
had tea, which we steeped on the stove in the cars. 

The lunch was put up by my friends Mrs. Rawson, Beck, 
Calvin, Seltzer, Epley, Dunlap, and Gates. My butcher, 
Mr. Williams, also made me a present of about ten pounds 
of dried beef. I suppose he thought I was going off to 
camp out for the winter, for it lasted us nearly all that 
time. 

We journeyed very slow on account of Charlie's health, 
stopping at many places to rest over night, as he was not 
able to stand a through journey ; besides, I wished him to 
see the country, as he was too young to enjoy it much 
when we went out. 



Life en the Pacific Coast, 331 

We reached Buffalo at five o'clock in the morning. As 
there was no 'buss or street-car at this hour, we thought 
we would walk to my sister's, as we wished to get there as 
soon as possible, and resume our journey in the afternoon. 
When we were nearly there we met a policeman, who 
very kindl}' showed us the house, it being too dark to see 
the numbers from the sidewalk. 

The family were not up, but my sister came and peeped 
out of the window, saw us standing there, and guessed who 
we were. As soon as she unlocked the door we were in 
each other's arms, and both wept for joy to think we were 
again with each other. 

The rest of the family were soon up, and we had a good 
old-time reunion. 

Breakfast was soon over, and we sat down to enjoy our- 
selves. The events of ten years were scarcely told on each 
side before it was time for an early dinner,and to start for the 
train. At one o'clock my sister was ready to accompany us. 
We took a street-car, and in a few moments reached the 
depot. We were soon seated in the cars, the train moved 
out, and we were speeding on our way towards our home — 
dear, old home. 

As we drew near Warsaw, the train began slacking up, 
and finally stopped. I inquired the cause, and found it was 
a snow-drift on the track. They said we would have to 
wait half an hour before it could be removed, but it was a 
full hour and a half before we were again under way. 

We were now rejoicing to think we were not detained 
longer, and congratulating ourselves of the prospects ot 
soon reaching Nunda. Imagine, then, our disappointment, 
for the train stopped again before we reached Castile station. 
We were snowed in, and were told we would be detained 
five hours; but, as good luck would have it, we got off in 
three hours. We had no more drifts, and soon reached 
Nunda, where the stage was waiting for the train. 



332 Ten Years in Nevada. 

Our luggage was soon stored away, and we took our 
seats in the stage. The whip snapped, and the horses 
started off on a trot. 

My anxiety to reach home now amounted to almost pain, 
which grew more intense every moment. I could scarcely 
control my feelings, so long did it seem before we drew 
rein at the dear old house. 

I was the first to leave the stage, and, leaving Charlie to 
look after the baggage, I went to the house. 

I was met at the door by my father, who folded me to 
his heart in a fond embrace. As soon as he released me, I 
went to my dear mother, who was lying sick in bed. She 
had been sick about six weeks, but my return seemed to 
give her new strength, for in a few days she sat up. But 
alas ! my joy was soon turned to pain. My mother took a 
fresh cold, and was again taken down to her bed when I 
had only been home five days, and for weeks we all thought 
we must part with her. 

My sister and myself sat up with her night and day for 
six months, and then family sickness called my sister home, 
and I was left for two months alone with mother. She was 
now so she could sit up ; and when the warm days of June 
and July came, she walked out to see her flowers. 

We were all encouraged about her health. Although 
she was able to walk about the house, she had very restless 
nights, and I never allowed her to be alone one moment. 

My mother thought a great deal of her grandson Charlie, 
and he whiled away a great many hours in reading and act- 
ing for her amusement. His poetical talent seemed to 
amuse her most of all. 

We had been home about eight months, and were just 
beginning to enjoy ourselves after my mother's recovery, 
when things began to go wrong in the West. 

When I left there I had a handsome fortune invested in 
stocks. My income was just $200 a month. I left orders 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 335 

with my agent to send me the money monthly, as I wished 
to use it in the East. 

I did not get any for some time, and then only in small 
postal orders — which were sometimes two months in reach- 
ing me — one of which was lost, and I had to wait for a du- 
plicate order. I do not know why letters containing post- 
office orders should be so long in reaching their destina- 
tion, while a common letter will go through in seven 
days. 

I knew it was not my agent's fault from the date of the 
letters. I received a few hundred dollars, and then he 
stopped sending, and did not even write for a long time. I 
thought he had been putting the money in the bank, and 
wrote to him to buy me fifteen shares of Consolidated Vir- 
ginia stock, which had dropped to $20 a share. 

My next Western papers showed me that Consolidated 
Virginia stock had again dropped to $12 a share. I wrote to 
him to buy fifteen shares more of Consolidated Virginia. He 
now wrote that he had bought the stock at both these 
figures, as I had ordered. He also told me he had bor- 
rowed money at the bank, and bought the first lot ; had 
"ponded " the stock tor the second lot. He said : " 1 used 
the money to buy Ophir. If I lose on it, I will make it up 
to you." 

It seems he had got what he thought was a good post 
Irom some of the bonanza employees, and went to dealing 
in stocks at my expense — a thing he never did, and never 
will know how to do. 

He has been broke half a dozen times by the business; 
and it seems he was not satisfied with this, but thought he 
would try and break me ; if he did not succeed, it was not 
his fault. I think he tried hard enough. 

The old adage is " Trouble never comes singly." In 
my case it was true, for the Consolidated Virginia stopped 
paying dividends ; California dropped off $1 of hers ; 



334 ^"^'^ Years in Nevada. 

Ophir also took a fall from a very high figure down 
to $40. 

My agent had been at his old trick — doubling up on 
stock, and was sold out on his Ophir. 

About this time the man who rented my store sent me 
word that he would move unless I came down $10 a month 
on the rent. I sent him word to move, as he had not lived 
up to the contract since the first day it was drawn. 

He did move, and took a part of the house with him. 

My house was vacant several months before I got another 
tenant. 

California now gradually dropped down from $36 to $7, and 
then dropped off her last dollar dividend. Everything was 
dropping. The brokers began selling off my stock to pay for 
the borrowed money, as well as the stock bought on j::redit. 

My agent had got things so mixed that he did not know 
what to do, so he stopped writing to me entirely. I had 
fifty shares of Exchequer which had cost me $5 a share. I 
had held it eight months waiting for a raise. It came, but 
the brokers had sold it only two days before it went up to 
$11, and kept stocks that were constantly falling. This is 
a broker's trick. After all the stock which they had sold, I 
was still in debt about $100. This I learned from my banker. 
I had become scared at my agent's silence, and wrote to 
the bank to know how my account stood. The information 
it sent me determined me to go West, for I saw my stock 
was nearly gone, my store empty, and I was only getting 
$45 a month for both houses. 

I had written several letters for money, but had received 
no answer. I tried to borrow money in the East, but could 
not. I wrote to my friend, Mrs. Beck, telling her I wanted 
money very much with which to go to Virginia City. 

The return mail brought me a letter containing a draft 
for the amount of money I needed (she having traveled the 
road so often, knew exactly the amount I needed.) 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 335 

When I saw the draft, I could not help shedding- tears 
over such pure, disinterested friendship. 

I now sent for my sister to come and stay with my par- 
ents till I returned. 

I then bid adieu to all my loved ones, and took a Western- 
bound train. In eight days 1 landed in Virginia City, taking 
all by surprise but my friend Mrs. Beck. 

My friends were as glad to see me, I think, as I was to 
see them. I think my agent was quite as glad to see me as 
any one, as he had become so entangled that he wanted me 
to help him out of his difficulties. 

I sold some more stock, and paid up the borrowed money, 
got my stock free, and took it to another broker, and told 
him to let no person draw money on it again, agent or no 
agent. 

I would not have my readers think that I for one moment 
doubted the honesty of my agent, for I did not ; neither 
did I think he had got " fool in the head," as the Indian 
doctor said when asked what ailed his patient, who had the 
softening of the brain. But I did think he had stock on 
the brain, and had not a good, general business tact. I 
never knew a chronic old bachelor who did have. Perhaps 
he was affected by the climate. I suppose if I had left all 
the stock I had with him, he would have soaked the whole 
amount in Ophir; but, fortunately, I did not. Consequently 
I have a few hundred shares left yet which, with the rem- 
nant left of what he had, will be a little fortune by itself if 
I hold it for a raise, which I intend to do. My home and 
mill-site in Virginia City is still left, and some property be- 
longing to my brother. So I am not broke, or, as some 
think, l(jst all my property. I have allowed the public to 
think what they chose, as I wished to gratify a whim of my 
son who, before coming East, said : " Mother, if there 
are any pretty girls in the East, I may take a fancy to one ; 
and if 1 do, I have an old-fashioned notion to be loved for 



336 Ten Years in Nevada. 

myself alone, and not for my money. If you have no ob- 
jections, we will make people believe we are poor after we 
have been home a few months. We will make it appear we 
have lost our stock. This will test our friendship." I told 
him I had no objections. After a few months some of our 
stock fell. We could now say we had lost, and tell the 
truth ; but we left it to the tongue of the mischief-makers to 
say how much, for we knew they would get it enough 
every time. 

About this time things began to go wrong in the West, 
and our losses did prove heavy. Our bad luck commenced 
in reality. Charlie began to look quite blue when the divi- 
dends were cut off, and the rent lowered. He said it was. 
nice to play poor to test friendship, but to be poor was an- 
other thing. A good share of the stock "pondedj' for 
Ophir was his. I told him not to worry, as I would divide 
with him. He said he thought it must be a judgmeni on 
him for his deception. I told him it was no deception ; it 
was simply a test of friendship ; and although we were often 
cramped for money, he stood it like a hero. We never re- 
pented the test. Often our postal orders would not reach 
us on time, and we were obliged to borrow money, which 
was almost the next thing to impossible. Yet a few friends 
stood by us ; these we shall not forget hereafter. Those 
who left us we do not want. My store was still empty. 
The woman who had the upper part of my house, together 
with the small one, had got my agent to reduce the rent $15. 
She had threatened him if he did not, she would move out. 
He, not knowing what else to do, had let her have it at her 
own price. 

I now tried to sell my house, and offered it for $8,000 — 
about one-half of what I had been offered at the time of the 
big fire. A man agreed to take it at this price as soon as 
he sold his Nevada stock. It was then $joa per share. 1 
advised him to sell, and offered to take it at these figures. 



Life 071 the Pacific Coast. 337 

No ; he wanted more. I told him he would never get it; 
it would drop before two weeks. I tried to persuade him 
to save himself. 

"What do you want of it if it is going to fall?" he 
asked. 

I will put it in to-day, and sell it, I replied. 

" Well, I guess I will keep it another week, and I will 
make profit enough on it to pay you for your place." 

If you wait you will never buy it, said I. 

Well, he waited, but the brokers did not let him wait 
long. It was the old story — he had doubled up, and they 
sold him out. Some of his stock he had bought for 75 cents 
a share, and now refused to sell for $300. I think he earned 
his loss. Any man who is not satisfied with $299.25 clear 
profit on one share of stock earns his poverty, and ought 
to eat sage-brush. 

When Sierra Nevada made such a big break, ever3'body 
in Virginia Cit}' was broke, too. Nobody wanted to buy — 
nobody wanted to rent. I was obliged to leave it with my 
agent to do the best he could with it. 

After receiving a nice lunch from the same kind friends 
who had prepared the one for my previous journey, I bid 
them all good-bye, and started again for m}^ Eastern 
home. 

I had a very pleasant journey over the plains, enjoyed it 
much more than I did when 1 went out in the fall, for then 
the prairies were on fire in a great many places. For three 
days and two nights we were passing through fire on either 
side of the track. We had to keep the windows down, and 
doors closed. The window glass was quite hot most of the 
time. 

Occasionally we would pass over quite a space which had 
been burned before. This gave us a chance to get a breath 
y)[ fresh air, and the cars a chance to cool off. In many 
olaces it was one sea of flame from the track ofif on the 



338 Ten Years in Nevada. 

prairies as far as the eye could see. The passengers were 
afraid the cars would take fire. 

" Well, Bridget," said our friend, Mike, to his wife, " if 
they burn us up, we will sue the company, so we will." 

" Ouch, Mike, you fool, an' how could we be afther doin' 
.that whin we're kilt intirely ? " 

We saw several buildings near together at a great dis- 
tance off. A barn was nearly consumed, but the flames had 
aiot reached the house. People were going to and fro, car- 
rying out furniture. Men, women, and children stood 
huddled together near the house. I have no doubt they 
were all consumed by the flames, for we could see no way 
lor them to escape, unless they were surrounded by a streak 
of plowed ground ; but this we had no means of discover- 
ing, as they were so far off. It was dreadful to see-them 
.standing there, and we no power to save them. 

I was glad when we left the burning plains and struck 
the mountains. It was supposed the fire caught from the 
cars. 

When I came back in January, I saw the ruins of many 
burned buildings. The grass is about three feet high ; and 
•\vhen large tracts of it takes fire, the flames will reach from 
ten to fifteen feet. I think this ranche must have been ten 
miles off, for the persons we saw passing back and forth 
looked like mere children. 

You can see a great many miles in a straight line on the 
prairies. It was the Nebraska prairies that were on fire. 

There has been a vast amount of improvement along the 
line in the last ten years. The little cloth-tent settlements 
which then dotted the plains are now flourishing villages 
and cities of two and three-story buildings ; many of them 
are of brick and stone. Wherever the ground is tillable 
they have large fields of grain, young orchards, and fine 
gardens. The country is fast filling up, many of the towns 
having a population of 12,000. 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 339 

In the eastern part of Nevada they have opened many 
mines near the track, and in some places they are working- 
salt mines quite extensively. I saw large quantities of salt 
piled on the platforms near the track ready for shipment. 

Provisions are not near as high along the line now as 
they were when I first went out. A person can get a square 
meal now for 50 cents, or lunch for 25 cents, for which, ten 
years ago, we had to pay $2.50. 

Almost everywhere cast of Nevada you will meet women 
and children selling provisions. They will come on the 
Cars at every station. Here is where you Avill find prairie 
chickens nicely baked. Half a dozen will pass through the 
cars at one time with large pans full, each one trying to un- 
dersell the other. After they have sold all they can for 50 
cents and 25 cents apiece, they will pass through and sell 
double the quantity for the same price. If they have five 
or six left after supplying the crowd, they will lump them 
off to some passenger for 50 cents, and he will immediately 
divide them among his fellow-passengers. 

Nothing of note occurred until we reached CounciJL 
Bluffs, where we were ten minutes late for the train, and 
had to stop over for the night. We started in the morning 
at daylight. We had only gone three miles when we met 
a man who was flagging the train, which was immediately 
stopped. We learned that the bridge over the Missouri 
River had been burned during the night, or the end of it 
next to Council Bluffs; and had we not been flagged just as 
we were, some of us, if not all, might have found a watery 
grave. We were detained five hours while they were re- 
pairing the bridge. 

I was very fortunate in escaping accidents. Had we not 
been detained at Council Bluffs over night we would have 
been in an accident at the Junction, two miles west of Chi- 
cago. By being detained by the burning of the bridge, it 
made us behind time all the way through, which fortu- 



340 Ten Years in Nevada. 

nately prevented our being in a collision at Buffalo, which 
took place between a freight and passenger train about 
three hours before our arrival. The remainder oi my jour- 
ney was soon passed, and I arrived safe at home after an 
absence of three months. 

I found my mother apparently quite smart. She had sat 
up a part of each day during my absence. The rest of the 
family were quite well. 

I had been home hardly a month before my brother tlugh 
came to visit us from the West. He had not been at home 
in fifteen years. 1 heard the stage drive up, and thinking 
it was company my son expected, went to the door. 

There stood my brother. Although it was quite dark, I 
knew him, as we had been expecting him. I showed him into 
the sitting-room, and then stepping into mother's t:oom, 
said, speaking as calmly as possible: " We have got com- 
pany, mother ; I think Hugh has come. We had been very 
careful of bringing her sudden or exciting news. 

She seemed to take it very calmly. 

I then showed my brother in ; and after the greeting was 
over we all sat down and had a very pleasant visit, mother 
seeming to enjoy it as much if not more than any of us. 
She would sit up every night quite late, which I was very 
much afraid would tax her strength ; but she seemed to 
think not, and said she enjoyed sitting up with us. 

My brother had only been home four days when I was 
called away on business. When I returned home at night, 
I found my mother lying in bed very sick, and my father 
in a great state of excitement. 

We sent for a doctor, but she grew worse ever}^ day till 
the morning of the fourth day. I saw a change come over 
her. I immediately sent a dispatch to my sister in Buffalo, 
for she had gone home immediately after my return from 
the West. 

My dear mother grew worse every hour, and at five 



Life on the Pacific Coast. 341 

o'clock in the afternoon of the 24th of February she left us 
for that better land where there is no sickness, suffering, or 
sorrow. 

Her death was very sudden and uncxpiected to the 
famil}-, as we all thought she had been improving for 
several months, and she seemed so much better alter Hugh's 
return. 

We all felt it very much. It was a bitter blow to me, who 
had been separated from her so many years, to lose her so 
soon after my return. 

My father also took her death very hard, and was taken 
sick two weeks after, and was confined to the house for 
three months. 

He remained out of health till some time in August, when 
he began to improve. 

Just after he was able to sit up, a friend wrote to me, say- 
ing my broker was about to leave town, and I had better 
look immediately after my stock. I sent for money, but did 
not get as much as I expected. 

This decided me to send Charlie out, but I sent him too 
late to save my stock — at least my bonanza stock — for I 
still own quite a quantity of other stock, which may in time 
turn out to be bonanzas. 

I shall long remember the years of '//-'/S. The greatest 
trials and troubles I have ever been called to endure were 
in these two years. May I never have another such a sea- 
son to endure. After all we had suffered in Nevada of 
sickness, toil, privations, and hardships ; being many times 
swindled and robbed ; meeting with heavy losses in stocks 
and bad debts ; and the long separation from my friends — 
'all were very hard on us. 

When w^e left Virginia City I thought our trials were 
over, for I now had enough for myself and family to live 
on without ever lifting our hands to work again. But it 
seems our cup of sorrow was not yet filled; for alas! our 



342 Ten Years in Nevada. 

greatest trials and troubles were yet to come after we 
reached home. 

But, reader, after all I have suffered in the land of sage, 
I would much rather live there than in the East, for several 
reasons. First of all, my health was much better there than 
here ; second, if I dealt with a person, I knew what to ex- 
pect. I like a person better who will show his hand than a 
sneaking hypocrite with whom I do not know how to deal. 
Third, if I transact my own business, I can make more 
money in three months than 1 can in the East in a year; 
and I never saw the time while there that I could not bor- 
row from $1,000 to $2,000 on one day's notice; and the par- 
ties lending it would never think of asking me about my 
indebtedness, or how much property I owned, if it was a 
small sum of $200 or $300, or less. My word was ahvays 
quite sufficient for them. But I find it a common practice 
in the East for persons to inquire into your private affairs 
if you only wish to borrow $5 of them. 

As I have said before, there are no misers or penny-mites 
in Nevada. Even the bonanza men, who are the hardest 
crowd to get money out of on a small scale, are sometimes 
princely in their donations for charitable purposes. 

And if we live out our money fast, we make it fast. 

Now, kind reader, if I have given the Western people a 
worse name than they deserve, I have done it unintention- 
ally. If I have given any too much credit (which I doubt), 
it is because my love for them has blinded me to their 
faults. 

If I have seemingly spoken too highly in praise of my 
son, the reader will pardon a mother's pride in an only 
child ; and though I may never meet again any of my kind 
Pacific friends, let them ever bear in mind that though ab- 
sent they are not forgotten ; that the garden of my heart 
has ever been kept green by the blossoms of their love, the 
memory of each and all their many acts of kindness be- 



Life 071 the Pacific Coast. 343 

stowed on me, a stranger, while sojourning in their land of 
sage and silver. 

And now, in return, may God's choicest blessings rest 
upon them and theirs forever more. 

Kind reader, with many thanks for your patient indul- 
gence in any short-comings in this narrative, we will also 
bid you a kind good-bye. 

" ENDURANCE. 
" How much the heart may bear, and yet not break ! 
How much the flesh may suffer and not die ! 
I question much if any pain or ache 

Of soul or body brings the end more nigh. 
Death chooses his own time ; till that is sworn 
All evils may be borne. 

" We shrink and shudder at the surgeon's knife — 
Each nerve recoiling from the cruel steel, 
Whose edge seems searching for the quivering life j 

Yet to our sense the bitter pang reveal 
That still, although the trembling flesh be torn, 
This, also, can be borne. 

" We see a sorrow rising in our way, 

And try to flee from the approaching ill ; 
We seek some small escape — we weep and pray — 

But when the blow falls then our hearts are still. 
Not that the pain is of its sharpness shorn. 

But, think, it can be borne. 

"We wind our life about another life — 

We hold it closer, dearer than our own ; 
Anon it faints, and falls in deathly strife, 

Leaving us stunned, and stricken, and alone. 
But ah ! we do not die with those we mourn ! 

This, also, can be borne. 

"Behold, we live through all things — famine, thirst, 

Bereavement, pain ; all grief and misery ; 
All woe and sorrow ; life inflicts its worst 

On soul and body — but we cannot die. 
Though we be sick, and tired, and faint, and worn, 

Lo ! all things can be borne." 

THE END. ' 



